Bibbitybob

Bambi has nothing on me...

2012-01-26T21:27:00.001Z

I'm bruised and exhausted, but what a wonderful few days!

What happens when...

2012-01-15T09:22:00.003Z

What happens when...you get back from work to find that DIY Dad has had a DIY disaster, and pulled half the ceiling down? Three hours before you're due a house full of people...

Well you just move the loft hatch to one side a little and make sure everyone stays downstairs!

Ok...

...so what happens when your friend turns up two hours before you're due a house full of people and offers you wine? Well of course you have just had the shock of 'hole in the ceiling' so you get horribly distracted, entirely unprepared and forget to ice the cakes. Or get changed. Or serve nibbles.

Then you realise that, actually, these are my friends and my friends won't care. So crisps get thrown into a bowl (thank you Carrad!), clean jumper gets put on and out come the cake decorating supplies (fabulous toppers made by Sue from The Krafty Cupcake!). Because, of course, a much better idea would be to have a cake decorating competition!

Isn't the winner just fantastic? I think it encapsulates the 'divorce party' theme of the night just perfectly.

I'm suffering a little this morning...far too much wine was quaffed, I'm not sure that I've even had 4 hours sleep and I spent the night dreaming about cake! But I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and sure I will remember the imperfect party for years to come.

Spring

2012-01-11T18:04:00.004Z

I'm fighting the urge to put the heating on tonight - the days have been so mild but ooooh is it cold tonight! I thought I'd share this photograph Mummy BB sent me the other day with the caption 'Is Spring just around the corner?'.

The lovely little narcissus bulbs are planted in the Cath Kidston-inspired mug that I painted her for Christmas. So cheerful!

Christmas present round-up

2012-01-10T10:59:00.003Z

Oh, I do love instagram. As I went a little awol over Christmas, I thought I'd take the opportunity (read: an excuse to take pictures of pretty things - click for a bigger view!) to show you some of the lovely pressies I got from the big man.

L-R ♥ Hydrangea print tin jug ♥ Cupcake style bath bombs ♥ little wooden 'Relax' sign ♥ Gianduja Bomb 'Hotel Chocolat' chocolates (I still haven't brought myself to open them!) ♥ 'Bibbitybob loves' picture (the same idea as the one I made my Mum, but from a kind friend who knows all the things that I love!) ♥ 'Clean Cotton' and 'Unwind' jar candles ♥ 'Short & Sweet' baking book ♥ cupcake cake tins ♥ 'Vintage Flowers' book ♥ 'Tilda's Christmas Ideas' book ♥ mercury glass bird tealight holder ♥ obligatory pyjamas and socks ♥

Welcome to 2012

2012-01-03T09:43:00.008Z

According to Wikipedia, there is a New Age interpretation that says that 2012 may mark the beginning of a new era. I quote... "this date marks the start of time in which Earth and its inhabitants may undergo a positive physical or spiritual transformation".

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On the other hand, it also says that there is a suggestion that this is the year that the world will end.

Crazy stuff. I have no strong belief either way but what I will take from each theory is that, whatever happens, 2012 should be a big year.
On December 29th, 2011 I completed the remortgage on my little house. Hooray! The next day my ex moved the rest of his things out and gave me his key back. Hooray hooray! What a way to mark the end of a long, tough year! It was funny though, because having spent 6 months building up to that day, all I got was a text message from a solicitor as my closure. I'm not sure what I expected (a fanfare, maybe?!) but it left me feeling a little deflated.

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So I allowed myself a few days to adjust. New Year's Eve came and went. I celebrated with friends, danced like a lunatic to some Kinect game or other and accepted a 'bake off' challenge. I did not enjoy midnight or coming home to my empty bed, but 2011 was done and dusted and it ended very nicely.

I'm fighting the feeling that I need to make a list of resolutions. I like lists. I have a brand new notebook just waiting to be written in. But after years of planning my future but still not ending up where I expected, maybe it's time that I just go with the flow? I can't promise that I won't write a 'to do' list before the year is out, but for now I've just decided that 2012 is going to be a year full of adventure and new possibilities. One day I will meet a man (I hope) and settle down (I hope) and have lots of lovely babies (I hope) but when that day comes I will undoubtedly look back wistfully on this tie-free single girl time and I don't want to be wishing I'd appreciated it more.

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Closing the joint account gave me a little extra cash in my pocket that I hadn't accounted for and I've chosen to spend it on little things that I couldn't otherwise justify buying - silly things like new hand towels (I've just worked out that my current ones are at least 5 years old...), a coffee date with a friend and a picture frame I liked in the sales. Having this house is fantastic, but it does mean that every penny of my wages is accounted for - if it's not paying bills it's rebuilding my savings, so I've decided to try and make myself a little extra every month to enjoy life with.

So it's over a week into January. What have I done so far? Well...

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- booked flights to visit my brother in Chamonix...I leave in two weeks time!
- taken down the Christmas trimmings (except for the garland on my mantle because it is just too pretty!) and cleaned the house top to bottom
- found an old ring from a jumble sale jewellery stash that I will send down the cash for gold route (I've never done it before, but at the current price of £9.80 a gram for 9ct gold it'll make me a bit extra for my holiday!)
- sorted through the pile of Wii games that I never play (they came as a job lot with the console) and discovered that they're worth almost £50 in cash at my local Cex store
- laid an off-cut of vinyl flooring in my under stairs cupboard (ok, so not massively exciting but my DIY skills are terrible and it now means I have somewhere clean to store my hoover!)
- set a date for my mini housewarming party...I'm planning to get the girls round, eat cake, drink wine and celebrate both my fresh start and the wonderful support I have received from them over the last 6 months

I'm still fighting the urge to make a list of things I'd like to do this year but if I've managed this much in three days without a list I'm feeling pretty positive about the rest of the year!

I'll stop rambling now, but I do hope that 2012 brings you everything that you hope and dream it will. I look forwards to sharing my year with each and every wonderful follower and friend I have gained along the way. Let's make it a year to remember!!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T15:59:00.003Z

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There have been big big changes around these parts and I can't help but feel that the best is yet to come.

I hope that 2012 brings all your hopes, dreams and wishes to life and I look forwards to sharing another year in your company.

Here's to a fantastic year ahead!

Happy New Year!!

Living Room before & after....again!

2011-12-30T09:08:00.005Z

Okay, so I know I said I'd be back with a proper post soon, but a few of you asked about things in my living room so I thought I'd show the true 'before' and 'after' with a few more details about items in the room!

The photograph on the left was taken on the day we moved in back in July 2010. A nice big pub carpet shot just for Kandipandi!

Paint - 'Egyptian Cotton', Dulux
Wallpaper - 'Hawthorn Leaf', Laura Ashley
Flooring - Magnet Trade (I would avoid this like the plague...cheap, nasty flooring that split and lifted in several places just a couple of weeks after it was laid and Magnet have done nothing about it!!)
Sofa - Laura Ashley, upholstered in 'Fleur, duck egg'
Mirror - 'Constellation' mirror, Laura Ashley (currently half price!)
Fireplace - Brand new from a company on eBay
Fire surround - reclaimed from another house being refurbished, painted in Farrow & Ball 'Dimity' eggshell
Throw (on back of sofa) - Tesco
Lighting - 'Inspire' chandelier, Argos
Painting (just seen on right) - PoWWow Eco Arts (those of you familiar with Platt Fields in Manchester, may recognise the artist's work!)
Fire guard - car boot sale
Rug - Ikea

I think that's everything covered! Hope that helps those of you who were interested. A lot of the things in the room were bought in the sale or second hand...it's always worth a hunt around before you buy!!

Spot the difference

2011-12-28T10:54:00.003Z

Christmas 2010

I just came across this photo of my living room on Christmas Day last year! Obviously the bare bones of the room were done...wallpaper, fire and blinds, but what a difference all the other bits make. Bye bye, pub carpet!

Christmas 2011

I promise I'll be back with a proper post soon!

Happy Boxing Day!

2011-12-27T01:15:00.002Z

There's pickled onions on sticks...that can only mean one thing! This year I hosted our annual family boxing day party, and how lovely it was too. My old wreck doesn't scrub up too badly and guess what....in two days time she will officially be mine, all mine.

Then I will have an excuse to throw another party!!

Happy Christmas

2011-12-25T14:29:00.001Z

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Hope you're having a Christmas filled with all the things that warm your heart and make you smile.

Happy Christmas!

I really can't stay...

2011-12-16T18:35:00.004Z

Oh my word is it cold outside?! I'm terribly envious of those of you who have snow...it is ridiculously chilly here but just with lots of grey and miserable weather. To counteract all this dullness I am attempting to get into the Christmas spirit! Inspired by a picture I have since lost somewhere in blogland, I decorated my kitchen chalkboard yesterday afternoon - much more fun than a shopping list.

This whole 'operation Christmas spirit' has been an ongoing project for a week or so now, with...errr...a 6 day break in the middle. It started last Friday with a pot painting session at our lovely local shop. I painted a gingerbread man plate and collected him today - what do you think?!

Today's mission involved a 30 minute drive to the nearest 'The Range' and Dunelm stores (well, we have a Dunelm here but it's rubbish...). My fairy lights have now been tarted up with not one, but three different garlands! There's a string of pearly beads, lovely variegated faux ivy and glittery, floaty white roses.

You can see it all a little better in this photo!

And nestled in amongst all the foliage and candles is this fabulously shabby little fellow - a bargain at £1.24 and probably the closest I'm going to get to a snowman this Christmas!

Or failing that, a whole bottle...

2011-12-11T19:54:00.001Z

I thought some of you might like my new kitchen sign...I'll drink to that!!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2011-12-10T20:18:00.003Z

This time last week a good friend came round at silly o clock. Apparently my grinch like status was apparent over text message (maybe the "what's the point in decorating for Christmas when I'm single and childless?!" one gave it away...) and the doctors orders were wine and lots of. We sat on my sofa (because my lovely little Laura Ashley sofa is back downstairs, hooray!), kept the fire roaring and politely ignored the bare tree.

You see, that afternoon I'd opened my decoration boxes and as much as I adore my little tree fairy, she was a celebration of our first Christmas in this house. Along with a sentimental collection of baubles, two stockings and a great big dose of tiredness they conspired to create yet another mini meltdown.

But the wine went and Sunday came, with window washing and cake baking and general tree ignoring as long as possible. And then another friend came round and drank tea and talked decorations and suddenly I was ready. The tree is filled with B&Q generic baubles, as well as the beautiful champagne teardrops I bought as new stock from a car boot sale in the Summer. I can't cope with sentiment at the moment. Except the fairy, because I love her.

But in an evening when the curtains are closed, the candles are glowing and the tree is twinkling, I light the fire and wrap myself in a big chunky knit blanket and then I know why I don't need anyone else here to be able to enjoy Christmas.

This is a chance to form new memories, new traditions. I am surrounded by so many wonderful friends and family. Every morning I open my advent swap from the lovely Lucey at Lemonade Kitty and I drink tea from flowery mugs and I go to work. I eat what I fancy for tea and I go to bed with a book when I feel like getting comfy. I spent my time with who I want, when I want and am so very lucky. I think Christmas was bound to be hard, I just wasn't kind enough to myself to acknowledge that. But it'll come and it'll go and I will get by...with a little help from my friends, a crate full of wine and cheesy Christmas music on the stereo!

Get well gifts, new pillows and lovely lashes

2011-12-04T18:49:00.005Z

Wow...Happy December everyone! How on earth did that happen so soon?! I feel like I've lost the last two weeks of my life in a complete and utter haze, so it is really good to be getting back to normal (albeit with a still slightly strange heartbeat!).

Your kind comments on my last post were a truly heartwarming (no pun intended...) read, thank you all so so much for your kindness. Whilst some fantastic friends came round with piles of DVD's I've been completely unable to focus on anything other than a great big bed and piles of blankets.

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Whilst I was home the postman brought me a fabulously squishy parcel - my brand new memory foam pillows (these, if anyone's interested!) from Bedstar. After my 'sleeping in a cloud' experience back in September, I've been a little bit obsessed with a bed filled with fluffy, bouncy pillows and big, thick duvets. When these arrived I was a little bit disappointed by how lumpy and heavy they felt (nothing cloud-like about them!), and the rubber smell was pretty overwhelming. But oh my word they are good! They don't feel too firm to be comfortable yet they support my head and neck so well, and the foam almost moulds itself around me. After the first night the smell had all but disappeared and of my two pillows (the other is a lighter, siliconised clusterfibre filling) this is now my pillow of choice! I'm hoping for the price they will last a good long time...my last pillows were cheap and cheerful and I can definitely feel the quality difference.

Wow...who knew I could get so excited about a pillow! In my defense the last two weeks of my life have been pretty much centered around them!! My other favourite things have been the utter loveliness of my wonderful friends. My friend Emma bought me the most beautiful flowers and even arranged them in a vase for me - how talented is this lady?! If only I could find a man with such generosity and taste, lol!

I also received some very cheerful roses from a friend & colleague which I placed by my bed to cheer me up.

But my favourite of all 'get well' gift has to be the picture my friend posted to me all the way from Scotland. If you ever wondered what I look like...well here I am! The creature with the lovely lashes is, of course, my Cassie-cat and the sparkly blonde with the balloons and a slightly drunken gait is yours truly. My friend's little lady drew it especially to cheer me up and do you know what....it worked a treat!

Broken hearted

2011-11-26T16:18:00.003Z

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It's official ladies...my heart is broken...and for once I'm not being overly dramatic about my relationship status (or lack of it!).

A week ago, at about 3am, I had a rather scary ambulance trip followed by a week of ECG's, breathing equipment and needles. I'm now back at home, very bored (you know that phrase...the mind is willing but the body's not?!), very dizzy, fluttery heart-ed and tired and signed off work for another week.

The good news is that whilst I am avoiding caffeine and eating very little, I have been drinking lots and lots of fresh ginger tea! :)

And then I did a Tesco shop...

2011-11-14T22:44:00.003Z

From last night's living alone 'win', to tonight's living alone 'fail'. When I ordered 0.3kg of ginger from Tesco online at 63p I just assumed it would be a normal sized lump...whoops! It's actually bigger than both my hands put together.

Sooo....does anyone have any good fresh ginger recipes?? :)

Come on baby light my fire

2011-11-13T20:34:00.002Z

Who needs a man to build a fire eh? *attempts aggressive, testosterone filled pose* "huuurrgggh, man make fire, huuurrggh"

I have fresh flowers, a clean kitchen, a glass of wine, x factor on tv and my pyjamas on. Your wonderful comments on my last post have given me so much hope and warmth in my tum, thank you so much.

Today has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but I survived my first night alone and woke up this morning thinking "yay, I did it!".

I'm still finding homes for things and cleaning lots, and my wishlist of nice house things is getting longer by the minute, but hopefully I'll soon be able to take you on a mini house tour once all the boy furniture is gone!

2011-11-13T08:16:00.002Z

So, it was sooner than I expected, but yesterday the ex Mr BB moved out. Ouch. Sitting and wallowing has been a favourite pastime of mine for the last few days, but as from today I'm determined to try and start focusing on the positives of the move. Like, my lovely little Laura Ashley sofa finally being allowed in the living room! And perhaps I'll finally find time to get my little hall wardrobe painted up too.

Happy Weekend, everyone!

Pinterest distraction

2011-11-10T22:50:00.003Z

Image: Pinterest

I came on here with the intention of making a big long list of positive loveliness to pick up my mood on these gloomy long nights! But silly old me went to look on Pinterest for some pretty pictures to accompany my post...an hour and a half later and I'm still no further on (but I have found lots of pretty inspiration!).

So I just thought I'd share this lovely image as it really resonated with me and my current situation. Sometimes we do just have to let things go...

Spend vs. Save v2

2011-11-01T19:21:00.003Z

I love the Carmel shade from Laura Ashley but at £26.60 (current sale price) two of them were way out of my budget for my bedside lamps.

So you can imagine my excitement when I found two spotty lampshades in Homebase (much less 'lilac' and much more 'mauve' in real life) for the bargain price of £2.50 each. Whoop, whoop!

I just came to say hello...

2011-10-31T17:24:00.004Z

Do you ever have times in your life where you seem to have a constant 'theme tune' going on? Songs that are always on the radio, tv, playing in shops and pubs whenever you leave the house?!

Well here's one for this post...'Hello'. And the rest of the time? Well there's 'Jar of Hearts' (I'm going for the Craig Colton version...it actually had me in tears, but then again that's fairly easy at the moment!), there's 'Best thing I never had' (a friend heard this on the radio and texted me with the instructions to turn it up loud and shake my booty) and completing the depressing, yet somehow strangely uplifting, selection... 'Run for your life'.

So y'know, I'm taking my love and starting again...still. I've not really been in a 'blogging' kinda place for the last month. The ex & I are still sharing this house, although I've now put in for a remortgage in my sole name and am waiting very impatiently for a surveyor to arrange a visit. Lots of 'hurry up' vibes please blogland!

It hasn't all been bad though...I've lost a stone & a half since July. All my jeans are now too big, so of course I decided to spend the majority of my food shopping money on a very un-sensible yet ridiculously fabulous, vintage style dress. Perhaps I can wear it whilst eating smart price beans?!

The very best bit about the last month has been the sheer amount of work that has been done on getting the house up to a decent standard. The ex & my wonderful Daddy BB have worked so hard, mostly on little fiddly finishing bits but the big makeover has been the hallway.

I'm not sure whether the 'before & after' looks that impressive in pictures (especially since I had my camera on the wrong setting this morning and the 'after' pics are grainy, sorry!) but I am in looove. I'm still short of prettifying bits, but those aren't really of any interest to the mortgage company (no...I know...really!) and I've decided it makes sense to wait until it's just my furniture and then I can pimp and preen to my heart's content.

Please excuse the bright green frog tape too (amazing stuff, if anyone is after good masking tape!) - the old door has been stripped, painted and new glass added. I'll do a proper 'before and after' on that when it's completed, but how pretty is this glass?!

I'm planning to put a small coat cupboard by the stairs and a mirror up on my lovely Cath Kidston wall. Stroke, stroke. All the doors have had a lovely white coat of paint and sparkly glass handles added, and can you spot the difference in the door on the right?

Swanky bi-fold, hiding our (sorry....my?!) downstairs toilet. How posh do I feel?! Obviously it's still lacking pretty bits and needs the pipes painting, but it's getting there. And it works, which is always good.

So I'd love to leave this post with a promise that I'll be back soon but to be honest I'm not sure that the next month isn't going to be as hard as the last (especially since I start my new job tomorrow....HUGE hooray, but also HUGE aaaarrgggghhh which does not help impending mini breakdown). So I will just leave you all with a 'Happy Halloween' and hope that I will be able to catch up on everyone's blog and come back to share some positive stuff with you all soon!

Indian Summer

2011-09-29T16:32:00.004Z

Who knew that the last couple of days would have been spent topping up my tan?! It's the end of September, and today it was so hot that I felt like I was in a foreign country!

I spent a lovely morning with Mr & Mrs Carrad, drinking tea in the sunshine, mooching around the local boutique & charity shops and chattering for hours. I actually had some rare charity shop luck, although most of the bits I bought will be going on eBay to try and add some much needed pennies to the 'pay Bibbitybob's mortgage' fund!

This afternoon I went outside with the intention of doing some writing work, and ended up doodling with my pen instead. I think this is the first drawing I've done for about 3 years...I'm very rusty but really enjoyed myself.

Yesterday my friend came round with a bottle of pink fizz. So it was 11am? If I'm going to be unemployed, I may as well drink in the day too ;) it wasn't all wasted as I finally got one of my chairs re-upholstered.

Remember how it looked before? Obviously this one isn't a carver, but everything was the same other than the arms.

And here's a sneaky peek! I still need to fix some braid around the edges, but hopefully this baby will be up for sale next week! You can't tell in this photo as the sun was so bright (!) it over exposed my little phone camera, but the edges are all lovely, distressed and chippy. The fabric is a lovely wedgewood blue and is 'Brer Rabbit' design by William Morris.

I have another chair all painted up with a very exciting upholstery job due on it...hopefully all will be revealed very soon!

I hope you're all enjoying the sunshine whilst it lasts!

Chanel vs Barry M

2011-09-26T17:24:00.001Z

I have a feeling I may be ridiculously late to this party, but whilst on a shopping trip with Mama BB on Saturday I had a mini drool at the Chanel 'autumne 2011' make up range which (of course) led me to swatch a couple of their nail polishes. I already have, and love, 'particuliere' but this is where my expensive nail varnish collection ends.

One of the colours I tried was 'paradoxal' (it seems I am drawn to the 'p' colours) but it took me about 30 seconds to realise that a) I could not justify spending nearly £18 on a nail polish and b) even if I could justify it I didn't have a spare £18. I did love the colour though, and decided to pop into Superdrug to see if they had anything similar.

Spot the difference!

I am aware that this is a fairly naff photograph that doesn't do either colour justice, but as I only had one hastily painted Chanel nail I couldn't make a pretty comparison photograph for you. And honestly, I swear that Barry M's £2.99 'dusky mauve' is both beautiful and identical to 'paradoxal'. Even the consistency was comparable, at least to my untrained eye. Both nails only have one coat and my thumb nail (the Barry M polish) actually seems to look slightly better for it.

A little google has led me to discover that this isn't some magical discovery only I have made, and it is infact known as a 'dupe' in the beauty blogging world. But if, like me, you'd never realised before, I thought I'd try and save you all £15!

mymemories software giveaway winner

2011-09-25T18:37:00.002Z

Sorry it's taken me so long to get round to announcing this, but the winner of the mymemories software give away is....Jewel from Pretty Little Jewels! I will e-mail you soon with details of how to claim your free software.

Remember if you didn't win you can still use code STMMMS1676 to get 10$ off the software, and just as soon as I reach 350 followers I will be announcing another giveaway so watch this space...

Hello...

2011-09-25T09:03:00.006Z

I don't really know where to start with this post, other than feeling the need to say an absolutely massive 'thank you' for all the kind comments left on my last post and e-mails I have received from you wonderful, wonderful ladies. You have all given me so much strength and positivity.

The gingerbread men are still work in progress...

Here is the tea cosy I wanted to tell you about. It's knitted in the perfect colours for my kitchen, and even has a little hole at the top for my teapot's flower to poke through!

Thanks Mummy BB :) isn't she a clever lady?!

This last week has been a bit of a blur again. I've spent a few nights sleeping at my parent's house and there has been major DIY progress. I was supposed to find out if my 'day job' was continuing, but Those Who Make Important Decisions decided to make us wait a little bit longer so I'm not sure how I plan to feed myself next month. But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

On nicer notes, I also had an unexpected salsa dancing class (in an underground club, with wine and high heels...) and a lovely day out shopping (or in my case, wishing I had spare shopping pennies!) with Mummy Bibbitybob. Oh, and I have a bedroom again!

Ex-Mr BB (maybe he should just be 'the ex' now...) did a wonderful job of plastering the bedroom walls and painting the woodwork (I didn't manage to stay away long enough to stop an allergic reaction happening again...my skin is so sore today!). I got the wallpapering finished about 10 minutes before the carpet fitters arrived.

Cassie-cat has had her inspection...she approves.

Although she wasn't quite sure how to walk on it at first! Poor beast has had to walk on cold floorboards for the past year.

Strangely exciting...this was the first carpet I've ever bought. All other new floors have been vinyl or laminate and this experience was slightly terrifying, especially as the decision was left entirely to me. In true Bibbitybob style, I batted my eyelashes enough to get a nice chunk of money off the price of the carpet, and bought the underlay online (cloud9 9mm from tradepriced.co.uk if anyone is interested - all the carpet salesmen and fitters I spoke to were impressed with the price, as were we, plus everything arrived within 24 hours of me ordering it...big thumbs up!). The stairs & hall have been measured now so I have to go through the whole nerve wracking thing again this week ("what if the colour looks rubbish" "what if I decide I hate it after a week?" "what if it shows the dirt?" "what if...what if...what if...").

I can't believe I've just written such a long paragraph about carpet....

If you can remember as far back as October last year, you may remember that Mummy BB & I like to disappear whilst major work is being done. Yesterday's shopping trip was one of those days.

Here's a reminder of how the back of the house looked when we moved in. The window on the right has been replaced with French doors and the back door that used to lead into the kitchen is where the downstairs toilet will soon be. And it's been painted. Much less dreary now!

Yesterday Daddy BB & ex-Mr BB bricked up the old doorway and fitted the new window. I say 'new', it was actually rescued from my parent's neighbour's skip. It's just the right size for the hole! Unfortunately the bottom panel got smashed when the builders removed it, but it's going to cost us much less for a new panel than it would have for a whole window. Hurrah!

The breeze blocks will be rendered over to match the rest of the house, and I decided to leave the brick doorway feature. Don't you think it would have been such a shame to hide it? It's part of the house's original character.

I know I've talked a lot...sorry...just so much to catch up on! But this is the last thing, I promise.

The lovely Lynda over at Hookin' with Laalaa offered a copy of the 'make' book by Cath Kidston as a giveaway and the equally lovely Amanda from Amanda Makes offered a second copy too, and I was the lucky winner!

And lucky indeed, as not only did Amanda send me the book, she also included a lovely parcel of goodies for me to enjoy. Thank you Amanda!

Right, it's now nearly 11.30 and apart from getting up to make a cuppa and feed the cat, my morning has been spent in bed drinking said cuppa and enjoying the freshly decorated view. Bliss! But I really should get up and get a wiggle on...

2011-09-18T20:34:00.002Z

I came on here to tell you about my week. A week filled with gingerbread men and tea cosies and furniture painting and wall plastering. And Annie Sloan paint spilling. But honestly? I can't find the words anymore.

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I don't want to make this a 'woe is me' post, but I need to say this. Mr Bibbitybob and I have split up. We're both still in the house and trying to finish it off so that I can afford to buy him out (complicated, mortgage, figure crunching stuff). I thought I could keep this to myself and continue like everything was rosy until he'd left. But I can't. I'm sad, and hurt and I need to tell someone. Anyone.

On the plus side, I get to fill this house with pretty girlie stuff (more so that I do already...) and won't have to share my wine anymore.

Onwards and upwards, eh.

And in the meantime, I'll be able to show the bare bones of the making over but the house is so upside down at the moment that until he has moved out there will be no pretty room shots. But who am I kidding, you've not had any of those...ever anyway, have you?! :)

Last call for the 'my memories' giveaway - NOW CLOSED

2011-09-14T09:08:00.004Z

Just a quick reminder that the 'my memories' software giveaway ends today.

Head on over to my giveaway post and leave your details to be in with a chance of winning!

ETA: Giveaway now closed! Thanks for your entries, I shall be back to announce the winner shortly...

Sunday booty

2011-09-11T19:49:00.003Z

It's Sunday. That can only mean one thing...car boot sales!!

We had a super early start this morning (especially since I was out late last night...urrrggghh!) and ventured further afield than usual to check out a new boot sale. It was out in the sticks, near lots of very upmarket houses so I was hoping for higher quality stalls - no such luck!

There was, however, one stall with a very lovely lady and lots of pretty bits. I picked up this wooden jewellery box & frame, both ripe for painting projects.

And this cute heart shaped votive holder! I'm not very keen on the rusty copper type finish, so will go on a cheap spray paint hunt next week.

My very favourite buy of the day was this gorgeous fisherman's lamp! It has a really lovely cream enamel finish on the inside and I was really hoping it would fit in our hallway, but unfortunately it hangs too low for the front door.

So my lovely lamp has been sacrificed to the greater cause that is my mortgage payment - after a week of stressing about money, and stropping when eBay decided not to let me play, I finally got around to listing some items (< shameless plug!) this evening. This is the bad side of freelance work...veeery quiet September, it's all or nothing at the moment (I'm talking '1 hours work this month' quiet!).

I'm trying so hard to be good. There are lots of lovely things in this house that I've not managed to find a home for and I've decided that if they're not out the cupboard after a year of living here then they need to be added to the sacrifice pile.

Like my 'ding-a-ling' phone (it makes a really cute sound!). I love it. It's so shiny and retro. But I'm running a business and need an answerphone. Sigh.

And my favourite Cath Kidston plate rack. Pretty and functional, usually big tick boxes in my house, but homeless due to filling the kitchen wall spaces with cupboards. Why did I have to be so blinking practical?!

Nature's bounty

2011-09-10T15:08:00.003Z

This week seems to have passed me by far too quickly! I've spent a lot of time at my old flat, scrubbing it to within an inch of it's life. The funny thing is that my last tenants were so proud of how hard they'd worked to clean it...I can't possibly be mad at someone who's tried so hard, but it's a lesson learned for me. Next time, hire a cleaner and dock their deposit *sigh*

We did get chance to make the most of all the wonderful produce that the new season is bringing us. A fallen tree provided us with the perfect make shift ladders for a sloe picking session. Thanks, by the way, to all of you who identified the mystery fruit for me!

We now have a batch of sloe gin in the cupboard, a big pan of chutney on the hob and loads left over too. Does anyone have any suggestions of what else I can make?

We also received a batch of pears from my parents and a big bag of cooking apples from Mr BB's friend so I've made two giant crumbles from those today!

My first attempt at growing carrots seems to have been successful! I can't believe how sweet they taste fresh from the ground (with the mud washed off first, obviously...), yum yum. I've also pulled up some more beetroot and the tomatoes are cropping amazingly well. Mummy BB grew the fabulous gladioli flowers in the top photo - aren't they beautiful?!

Now I feel like I have a bit of a split personality - I've spent the day making chutney and baking, and now it's time to paint my nails and get my heels on for a night out on the town. Hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

Finishing off those WIP's

2011-09-07T17:03:00.003Z

Thank you all for the frame love on Monday! I still haven't finished the chalkboard panel, but this week seems to be passing me by very quickly already.

I did manage to get some WIP's finished this afternoon. All the items were car boot buys, although I'm not sure I have any 'before photos' - typical me, rushing on with things! The little peg rail above was plain pine. It got the Annie Sloan 'old white', wax & shabby treatment and a spruce up with a bit of Cath Kidston wallpaper leftover from the hall.

This little chest of drawers was covered in paintings of farmyard animals! I think it looks much better with a shabby up (excuse the fiddly bits in the corner, I pinched the upload from Facebook as I couldn't find my phone lead!). Just need to finish off the edges of the paper once they're dry.

Lastly I did this little key cabinet. I wanted to go for a more 'manly' shabby look - not sure if I managed it or not? It's painted in Annie Sloan's 'duck egg' with B&Q wallpaper on the back.

Now I'm going to a friend's house to relax with a big glass of wine and put the world to rights! Hope you all have a good evening :)

mymemories software giveaway - NOW CLOSED

2011-09-07T11:08:00.003Z

Morning all! You may remember that I mentioned that I used the mymemories scrapbooking software to make the label for Mr BB's retro sweets box.

I'm not a scrapbooker but when the lovely people contacted me and asked if I'd like to have a play with the software I saw lots of potential for cute labels, cards, calendars...the list is endless and I've been busy downloading some of the free scrapbooking kits to play with!

Here's another design I toyed with, before deciding it was probably a bit too girly. The software seems pretty straightforwards to use (which is always good for a mini-technophobe with very little patience...aka, moi!) and you can do as little or as much work on the design as you like.

I never did get around to a 300 followers giveaway, so I'm very excited to be able to offer one lucky follower a free copy of MyMemories Suite worth $39.97 (£24.98 at today's exchange rate).

To enter, have a look over on the MyMemories website and then just pop back and leave me a comment saying what you would create with the software.

You must be a public follower of my blog to enter. For an extra entry follow me on Twitter and comment here to let me know you are.

I'll draw the winner on 14th September, but if you don't want to wait that long I've got a code that offers 10$ discount off the MyMemories software. Simply enter STMMMS1676 in the promo box when you check out!

ETA: Giveaway now closed! Thanks for your entries, I shall be back to announce the winner shortly...

Annie Sloan 'Provence'

2011-09-05T17:03:00.003Z

I may have mentioned my love for Annie Sloan's chalk paint once or twice. On my little Yorkshire jaunt I decided to pick up a couple of extra tester pots to try out, one of which was in the shade 'provence'. Oh my. It is love at first sight.

I had a little gold gilt frame that looked a bit tired. Gave it a coat, wiped some of it off with a damp sponge and then waxed. The board needs another couple of coats of chalkboard paint but ooooh, it's pretty.

I'm planning on being a good girl and selling this one, but am now on the look out for more frames to do for my living room. I think I've found my perfect accent colour!

Buried treasure

2011-09-04T19:54:00.004Z

Call me a sentimental fool if you like (just mind the 'old' bit, please!) but when I discovered this gorgeous old wallpaper buried on our bedroom walls I was so sad to peel it off!

It had all the makings of a fabulous wallpaper. Cath Kidston style chintz - check. On trend lace pattern - check. My favourite muted colours - check. But there was something just a little too old lady to make it beautiful enough to keep.

Sigh.

Short notice R&R

2011-09-03T08:38:00.000Z

Morning all! Apologies for my sudden disappearance...I took a last minute opportunity for 24 hours of rest & relaxation in a rather lovely countryside bolt hole.

None of the photos I took really do the place justice, but my parents, grandparents and at one point my uncle & auntie were all staying in the lovely old 'Spennithorne Station' along the Wensleydale Railway line (complete with steam trains passing the window!) and it was a bit like staying in a Country Homes magazine (that can only ever be a good thing, in my eyes). Thursday morning I found myself with a couple of days off work and in desperate need of time out, so I jumped on the east coast mainline and went to crash in their spare room.

It wasn't a complete work-free couple of days though. We visited the town of Bedale where I got to coo and drool over beautiful shops and took lots of inspiration for my own makes, and took an Annie Sloan paint buying trip to Milkchurn Cottage Interiors in Hawes. I also collected some fallen wood (future projects in mind) on our walk from Middleham, and took the time to sit on a big rock in a river!

I'm not sure if it was the country air or the cloud-like bedding, but I had the best night's sleep there. It also reminded me how rubbish my old, cheap pillows are so I see a John Lewis order coming up. Yes, I actually checked the labels to find out the brand and pillow composition...am I getting old?!

Mystery fruit

2011-08-30T08:00:00.002Z

Can any of you clever people identify what this fruit might be? We found a tree close to our home - they look like blueberries but I don't think they are.

Here's a shot with my wrinkly little finger to give you an idea of size.

Can anyone help?

The big 4-0

2011-08-29T17:54:00.003Z

There's been a very special Birthday in our house today. A big 4-0 kind of Birthday.

We celebrated in true Bibbitybob style...with a long walk in the woods, a pub lunch and lots of little treats.

Breakfast in bed was the one special request and I couldn't leave out the pretty china, could I?!

I printed out some 'happy birthday' bunting which I found over on the Ruffled blog. It was very well received and I've grown rather fond of it filling our empty hall walls!

Mr BB's pressies had a handmade factor too - I made him a 1970's sweet box full of all the sweeties he used to eat as a child. I love the label I made with my new mymemories software (more on that another day!). It cost less than £10 for everything and I got to handpick his favourites - much better and cheaper than buying one of the ready made boxes.

I also made a little '1970's' hamper to go with them...retro aviator sunglasses, The Dangerous Book for Boys, a record frame after he admired Daddy BB's and a Mr Benn DVD. Thoroughly spoilt, and of course they were all bargain buys ;)

Happy Birthday, Mr BB!

Vintage letterpress blocks

2011-08-28T21:09:00.002Z

I was super chuffed to find a box of mixed letterpress blocks at the car booty a few weeks ago, and even more chuffed that I could spell both our names out with the blocks. They're now sitting on the new radiator cabinet in the hall, just in case anyone visits and forgets who lives here.

After a few weeks of stroking and Scrabble-style word making, I've been a good girl and the remaining blocks have now been listed on eBay.

Does anyone else ever use the word 'chuffed'?!

Swaps & sales

2011-08-27T11:16:00.003Z

Ooh, thank goodness for the long weekend! I only have to work Sunday afternoon so after a mad cleaning session this morning, I'm looking forwards to lots of chill out time (and a certain someone's special big Birthday on Monday!).

This week has seen me sleeping a lot, plus we've discovered that I am most definitely allergic to not just satinwood paint but the fumes from said paint too. Not good when renovating a house in on a budget (ie. can't afford new paint!) and a hurry (ie. only one person working on a room at a time!).

On a more cheerful note, my package for the Undomesticated Scientist's Unbirthday Swap from Helen at moonstruckcreations arrived this week.

Just look at all that loveliness! I've been very good and hidden the choccies away for a quiet evening, most unlike me. The little maple taffy Lush lipbalm is divine and my fingers smell edible for hours after applying it. Thanks, Helen!

Also cheering me up this week were some lovely flowery gifts from Mummy Bibbitybob's garden, and she also brought me a gorgeous 'cut roses' scented candle that is currently filling my hallway with the most beautiful, strong smell.

I'll hopefully be back again this evening with a mini blog sale. I've been sorting through the kit I used as a make up artist and have lots of unused or 'used a couple of times' bits of MAC make up I'm not going to use, so I thought I'd offer for sale on here first - I know a lot of you are fellow MAC fans!

Domino's Pizza Challenge

2011-08-23T22:35:00.003Z

You can tell I'm getting old when I swap a night out on tiles for evening events such as a 'pizza challenge'.

L-R Domino's vegetarian supreme, Mummy BB's sundried tomato pizza, Bibbitybob's thin crust veggie feast.

Mummy & Daddy BB came round for a pizza, wii & film night a few weeks ago and we decide to have a 'pizza-off'. Obviously the fact that you can just pick from a pizza menu, sit back and wait for the knock at the door gives Domino's an instant advantage, and the fact that Mummy BB's rose to bread like proportions gave her a disadvantage (although the leftovers were amazing cold with soup the next day!), but I was very proud to be crowned all out winner for my handmade veggie feast.

I think I need to get out more...

Busy, busy, busy

2011-08-22T20:37:00.003Z

I've only not blogged for one day and I already feel like we have so much to catch up on! So why don't you grab a cuppa and we can chat. How was your weekend?

Mine was manic! Two boot sales, one summer fair and a day spent running a mini music festival in the most gorgeous sunshine. I can't complain at that though, can I? It was wonderful to see all our months of hard work coming together but after a 13 hour shift, boy, did I sleep well last night!

I had a wonderful surprise on Saturday afternoon when I came home to a gorgeous little package from a very thoughtful friend who knew I was going through a rough patch. She sent me some yummy tea (which I must admit took me a while to work out whether it was drinkable...it confused me a little as the packaging has a picture of a bath on!) and a pair of candles in gorgeous ceramic strawberries to cheer me up. Thank you!!

I also did some fiddling around in the hall...painting frames, filling frames (almost!) and putting up mirrors. The beady eyed among you may recognise the top frame from my car boot haul on Saturday morning. I think it looks much better after a paint job and distress! The little row of hooks & mirror was painted up too and cost just £1 from the booty a few weeks ago. It's amazing what a difference a few frames make!

I thought I'd show you my wall of mirrors too! My old timer followers will recognise them from the hallway in my flat (here's a link to an old post showing them, for anyone who's interested!). They all came from various car boot sales, except the little frilly one on a ribbon which was a Laura Ashley sale bargain. I can't wait for that floral carpet to go! I may be crazy, but I think I'm going for a cream carpet which will look so light and airy.

There's just a couple of little bits of filling and edge painting to do and the upstairs hall decorating is finished. Daddy BB is coming round tomorrow to help lay the laminate downstairs, then I can put my radiator cabinet and pretties up...I'm so excited!

And never one to sit still, I managed to strip the first of my bargain chairs down this afternoon. Here she (a chair that curvy and delicate can only be female!) is in all her naked glory!

And here she is after a coat of Annie Sloan chalk paint in 'Paris Grey'. Oh how I love that paint...no primer, great coverage and a coat of wax on top gives it a lovely eggshell style sheen. Can you believe I used less than half a tester pot on the chair?!

She will of course have the obligatory 'shabby up' and I have a rather exciting plan for the upholstery, I just have to wait for a delivery to arrive first...I'll be back!

(p.s. for charl, and anyone else who may be interested, the walls are painted in Dulux 'green clay' matt paint. It has just enough green in it to work perfectly with the CK wallpaper, yet still looks light and cream!)

Car boot haul

2011-08-20T17:20:00.003Z

Our local Wednesday & Saturday car boots are turning out to be the best of the year and, even better than that, they're within walking distance of my house!

This morning's haul saw yet more photo frames, a tree shaped note/card/pretty pictures holder, a small wicker picnic basket...

A pretty little floral cake stand or fruit bowl (it's slightly concave in the middle!)

Seven lovely gold coloured baubles - these were marked up at £3.50 each and I got them for 30p! A blue tray that is screaming for a shabby makeover and two little tin hearts.

Grand total, about £7!

Linking to flea market finds.

Oops!

2011-08-19T20:21:00.003Z

Look what I bought today!

Two carvers and four chairs, all with beautiful carved woodwork and just begging for a reupholster - oops!

Today...

2011-08-18T14:00:00.006Z

Wearing: Vintage-esque floral tea dress, Mango. Slouchy knit cardigan, H&M. Nude flowery sandals (not seen), Primark. Armful of bangles from various places.

Image credit: Weight Watchers
Eating: rice cakes with marmite, mashed advocado and tons of chilli salt (my latest favourite combination, yum!) followed by an apple, blueberry & raspberry Weight Watchers fruit crumble biscuit. (Note: I eat these because they taste nice, not because I'm dieting!)

Cooking: homegrown beetroot, skinned and soaked in elderflower vinegar from, Demi-John, one of my favourite foodie porn shops.

Doing: now that I've finished my flower power workshop and have done my chores for the day I'm avoiding DIY (had an overload, I think!) eagerly trying to organise a very exciting ebay purchase. Watch this space!

Image credit: Warehouse
Lusting: after seeing a lady at the car boot wearing a pleated jersey maxi skirt and looking terribly chic yet comfy, I've decided there's definitely a maxi skirt shaped gap in my wardrobe. I've found this one in Warehouse for £35, but I've also seen a similar Primark one floating around which should be cheaper!

Yeah, baby

2011-08-17T20:56:00.006Z

Oh how I miss the days of working in a school - six long weeks of paid holiday throughout the Summer...bliss! Nowadays school holidays are my busiest time of year, so along with mad decorating and all the personal crap I'm dealing with please accept my sincerest apologies for being relatively absent from both here and from all your lovely blogs.

I thought I'd pop on to show you one of the projects I've been making today for the vintage fashion workshops I'm doing with a group of teens tomorrow - we're going all flower power!

I've taken inspiration from all the folky, floral headbands I've seen in the shops lately. The band is just a simple wool braid (have you all heard of the cardboard hexagon/circle loomy thing you can make them on? Let me know if not and I'll take photos tomorrow!) with some Sizzix felt flowers and a button, plus a piece of elastic at the back. Simple, cute and very cheerful.

I think I'm far too old to pull it off outside the house, but hopefully the teenies will like the idea!

Hallway sneaky peek v2

2011-08-16T20:24:00.003Z

Today's been one of those days full of jobs that don't seem to make a difference. Do you know the kind I mean? Sticking bits of wallpaper down, sanding rough edges, filling small holes...to the untrained eye it looks like nothing has been done when in fact you've spent the whole day covered in dust and dirt!

As a mini reward to myself I (well, Mr Bibbitybob) put the curtain pole and curtain up this evening. Here's how the hallway looked on moving day...

And here it is this evening...

Obviously the curtains need ironing and tie backs putting up, and it is severely lacking in pretty things, but it's on the right side of progress now! I'm so pleased with the wall colour, it's got just enough green tinge to look period but is still lovely and light.

Here's the downstairs, complete with fresh white woodwork (you saw the 'before' photo in yesterday's post)...

I think I'm going to paint the front door in Farrow & Ball's 'french grey' eggshell inside and out, and I visited a local glazier to get a quote for replacing all the nasty 1970's patterned glass with some gorgeous vintage looking 'chantilly' glass.

Image source

And just because I know you all love a bit of Cath Kidston...here's an arty angle that shows how the lovely flowery wallpaper looks with the new paint colour!

Tomorrow I'm planning to get rid of the cluttered little bookcase you can see in that pic, and I'm looking forwards to being able to share my mirror collection with you too!

Paint, paint and more paint.

2011-08-15T19:53:00.005Z

Do you remember how I gushed about the lovely heart shaped spindles when we bought our house?

Yeah, that was before I had to sand 30 years of gloss paint off and then re-paint them. There goes six hours of my life.

Luckily my Dulux satinwood paint has been a saviour! I bought a big tub from our local trade store and rejoiced in glee when I got it home and realised that it doesn't require undercoat. That saved me three hours work today. Thank God for that. Whinge over.

Image: housetohome.co.uk

All that said, it's a good job done. Now that all the woodwork is brilliant white it looks so much fresher and really finishes the new plastered walls. I've been taking inspiration from housetohome.co.uk and can't wait to be able to start prettifying again and share my hard work with you!

Image: housetohome.co.uk

We're on the way with the hallway

2011-08-14T22:00:00.004Z

I spent this afternoon stripping.

No, not that kind of stripping! The 'heat gun in one hand, scraper in another' kind of stripping. Who needs the gym when you have a front door with 80 years worth of paint. Phew. Oh, and I caulked and painted too.

As a reward I've ordered some of the prettier sensible bits for the hallway...

I am so excited to be able to show you the finished room, although the frustration of living in a renovation is that we can't replace the green floral carpet until the bedrooms are decorated - cream carpet and more plastering work is just asking for trouble!

In my garden today...

2011-08-11T15:46:00.002Z

One lemon cucumber.

Two sweet peppers.

Three fat blueberries.

Four ripe tomatoes.

Five green chillies.

And one very hungry caterpillar!

Let's run away together...

2011-08-09T22:17:00.004Z

After my last (albeit short and sweet!) post I have received a few comments and e-mails from fellow bloggers, some who have been affected by the rioting and others who simply share my horror and sadness.

Source
It's with a heavy heart that I've been watching the further events in Manchester tonight, especially since my brother lives there and we've only just heard that he is home and safe.

Tomorrow morning will bring another survey of the devastation but also it seems that the clean up operations that are planned will bring new hope to communities as they already have in the South.

Source
Just for tonight, I'm going to close my eyes and disappear to a place filled with sunshine...

Source
Long nights filled with dancing...

Source
Lots and lots of beautiful, gloriously scented flowers...

Source
And an endless supply of cuddles!

Do come and join me!

2011-08-08T18:47:00.002Z

I can't be the only person who can't believe what on earth is going on in our capital city.

What is happening?!

Cake, anyone?

2011-08-01T07:37:00.003Z

Welcome to my new Summer house! Anyone for tea?

If only I 'did' dolls houses! Mr BB's Mum is a big collector but is having to get rid of everything due to a downsize. Handmade dolls, bears, the works.

This little house is currently in my dining room window, waiting for a lovely new home. I keep peeking inside and losing myself in the tea party for a while! Isn't it adorable? It even has a teeny tiny KitchenAid on top of the fridge!

I've just added this (and another, less pretty, more gothic!) to my eBay listings, so if anyone has an empty space waiting for something pretty and girlie, pop along and have a look!

Swap parcels

2011-07-30T19:10:00.003Z

Ooh, I've been feeling a very lucky girl indeed this week. I was feeling pretty blue yesterday morning, had just dragged myself out of bed and given myself a virtual slap in the face to get moving when the post lady knocked at the door and delivered not one but two lovely swap parcels.

The first was my 'Faith, Hope & Charity Swapping' parcel from Sian. It was full of lovely retro fabric squares, a cute little cat brooch that looks suspiciously like Cassie-cat, spotty cupcake cases, a lovely handmade bag, fabric tape and a collection of replica vintage garden ephemera.

You can just see inside the packet in the photo above - lots of vintage flower images and adverts that I think will look fabulous in assorted frames in my summerhouse (which is still no further on from when I showed you in June, but is on my "to do" list!!). Thanks Sian!

Next up was my parcel from The Krafty Cupcake for Kandipandi's fabric swap.

A selection of scrummy fabrics and felt...

Bags of fabulous 'fiddly bits' and a sweet little tin of buttons that was customised with my name.

Some Cath Kidston goodies, cute little fabric button earrings and a lovely scented hanging bag.

The Krafty Cupcake also lives up to her name and creates beautiful cupcakes and toppers. We had exchanged some lovely long e-mails and because I had expressed my desire to learn the art of cupcake decorating she very kindly sent me some fondant, a little mould, some CK-style floral cupcake cases and some absolutely gorgeous cupcake toppers. I can't show you as I don't want the air to get to them (I'm not sure if that's a silly thing to say?!) but check out her blog and Etsy shop for an idea of her gorgeous makes!

So a big public 'thank you' to you both, ladies. You cheered me up on a gloomy morning and your packages have filled me with both joy and inspiration.

P.S. To those who guessed the mystery fruit...Bumble got it right straight away, it was indeed a 'lemon cucumber'! I bought Mummy BB a selection of funny seeds for Christmas and this was what I was presented with the other day. How cool?!

Is it a bird...is it a plane...?

2011-07-29T09:01:00.002Z

I thought I'd share this...it came off a plant in Mummy BB's garden.

Let's play a guessing game! Ideas...anyone?

Holiday time

2011-07-27T20:56:00.004Z

Hello! I'm back...again...a much cheerier absence this time though.

We've been on our holidays! The last five days have been spent camping in the Peak District. Although, strictly speaking, it was probably a little bit more like 'glamping'. We were lucky enough to have the use of my parent's trailer tent so my week has included a mattress (complete with my Laura Ashley bedding and new, super soft pillowcase...well worth the extra pennies for hotel style sleeping...bliss!), a bottle of rose (which lasted me the whole five days, for those who think I may be just a little too fond of the pink stuff...), a fridge full of yummy food (very kindly stocked in advance by Mummy & Daddy BB) and hot showers (courtesy of the shower block!).

There have been a couple of amusing incidents...one including a frisbee, a pair of sunglasses and my nose (I still have the bruise) and another including a rather adventurous attempt at making nettle tea.

The tea was lovely (smelt and tasted like garden peas, in case you've never tried it!) but Mr BB's insistence of "just grab them hard, they won't sting you" was followed by plenty of yelping on both our parts. Stupidly I'd just been reading a book about people overcoming their fears and fire walking so felt a little too invincible. The power of the mind did not help my numb fingers for the rest of the night.

We climbed mountains (or may be it was just a big hill...either way, it was steep!), swung on rope swings over the river (well, I did!)...

...admired great views...

...and ended our stay with a fabulous day spent playing badminton, BBQ eating and enjoying the company of my family!

I spent lots of time reading too - I read The Battersea Park road to Enlightenment cover to cover (loved the first half, not so much the second...still worth a read if your local library has it!), Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (yes, yes...I know...) and began a book about Proust that I've forgotten the name of. It was like a self help retreat! The good news is that I'm now back and ready to go...wherever it is I'm going...

The even better news is that I visited my favourite car boot sale whilst we were there and picked up some goodies. Those will have to wait for another day though as I've rambled more than enough already and my bed is calling me. Hopefully I'll get a day to catch up on everyone elses' blogs soon!

Life is just a bowl of cherries

2011-07-20T20:48:00.000Z

Life is just a bowl of cherries
Don't take it serious,
Life's too mysterious
You work,
You save,
You worry so
But you can't take your dough
When you go, go, go

So keep repeating "It's the berries."
The strongest oak must fall
The sweet things in life
To you were just loaned
So how can you lose
What you've never owned

Life is just a bowl of cherries
So live and laugh,
Laugh and love
Live and laugh at it all!

Where to start?

2011-07-19T14:05:00.005Z

Oh dear. I've had such a horrible week.

I'm not ready to tell you why, so I've spent the last few days wondering where on earth to start back on here. And then this morning I realised that the friendship I've found from my blog readers has never once asked me to prove myself or explain anything. I've not had a chance to reply to any of your comments or read anyone else's blog, my head has been so overloaded that I couldn't bring myself to open my computer except to reply to important e-mails my phone picked up. Please bear with me if I'm a bit flaky for a while but it won't be forever.

Everything has completely gone to pot over the last 7 days. But today I've had the day off, scrubbed and tidied the house top to bottom (we decided to strip the hall walls last night...so much sticky, gluey bits of paper everywhere, and old paint flakes, yuk!). I also managed to get some half completed projects finished!

Remember the little cabinet I bought from the car boot? Well she's finally had her coat of paint, a rub down and a bit of spotty wallpaper treatment! Excuse the naff wallpaper in the background...we've not reached this room yet.

I'm still planning to get some mirrored glass cut for the doors so she (I'm not sure where the 'she' came from!) can be a bathroom cabinet but for now she's sitting on my office desk.

Do you remember these canvases I bought way back in April? Well I finally got hold of some cork board (my friend Carrad's husband kindly donated me some leftover tiles!) and with the help of a rotary cutter and spray adhesive I turned them into two very cute little pin boards. I even got them hung up on the wall!

Whilst I was snapping these projects I thought I'd share my desk with you. A lot of the clutter on it will be put up on the walls just as soon as the room is decorated but it houses some of my favourite things such as my big vintage UK map, my enamel anglepoise lamp and my printers tray.

I still have lots to share with you so I'm hoping that now I've made a first post back it'll be easier to pop by and say 'hello'!

The best kind of bargain

2011-07-09T17:26:00.004Z

It seems to be a good day for shabby bargains. The in-laws are selling their house and asked us to go down and help them de-clutter ready for sale. You know I hate to see things go to waste, so typically we seemed to de-clutter a lot into our house!!

All of the items below were either destined for the skip or the charity shop, so my mother-in-law very kindly let us take them away instead!

Every time I look at this lamp I think of Narnia! It needs a good wash, but I'd like to replace the bulbs with candles and mount it in the middle of our rockery.

Apologies for the rubbish photo, but this dovecote is huge! All it needs is a bit of a tart up, but this will look really sweet sat on a post at the end of our garden.

Apparently this cake stand is a family heirloom - let's hope I don't drop it! It's a really simple design, but so sweet and pretty.

And to continue the glassware theme we got a fabulous chunky crystal fruit bowl and a really pretty etched floral plate.

Let's hope my run of luck continues for the car boot sale tomorrow morning!

Linking up with Her Library Adventures.

Splendid Saturday

2011-07-09T10:49:00.002Z

What a novelty it is to have a weekend off! And what did I do this morning? Why I got up silly early of course, and went to our local Saturday morning car boot sale.

The weather has been so unpredictable lately that there was a pretty small turnout but I still managed to pick up this lovely unit. It's about 60cm tall and I almost fell over in shock when the lady said she only wanted £1.50 for it!

It's already had a rub down and first coat of paint. I'm planning to get some mirrors cut to fit the doors, new handles and shabby loveliness and use it as a bathroom cabinet. I won't have the handles for a while but hopefully I'll be able to show you the painted make over soon!

I also thought I'd share my lovely flowers with you too. Mummy & Daddy BB bought me a pretty bunch of Birthday flowers. The rest of the bunch is looking splendid in a big vase but I took the gerberas out and arranged them on my mantle piece in little vintage bottles.

They look so cheerful!

Happy Saturday, everyone!!

London, a Birthday and some macaroons

2011-07-08T10:22:00.004Z

Hello! We're back from London...insomnia meant we drove home earlier than planned and arrived back yesterday morning. I did try to post whilst I was away but BlogPress decided it didn't want to play, so now we have a little catching up to do.

Thank you for all the very kind London wishes. We had a very lovely few days, lots of walking around and seeing the sights. I showed Mr BB all my old haunts...the private estate my old flat was on, the coffee shop I used to drink in and Waterlow Park. I'm sure I remember an amazing view over London from the benches there, but maybe I didn't account for the trees having grown in 4 years.

We stopped by the lake and had a lovely chilled out picnic...sandwiches, olives, fruit smoothies and giant strawberries...yum!

I wore my favourite shoes but after the 4 mile walk from Alexandra Palace to Highgate I discovered that they weren't the comfiest choice.

And then when it rained, they weren't very practical either! We hid in the woods for a while and watched did enjoy sitting under a big parasol and drinking tea at Kenwood House. The rain didn't matter and there were beautiful red geranium plants potted up on the table which looked so cheerful.

We visited Harrods because Mr BB had never been. We did stop off at Lauderee for macaroons but it was so horrid and busy that we bought some home with us instead and yesterday they joined my lovely Birthday gifts.

As well as our London trip, Mr BB treated me to the Marc Jacobs 'Lola' perfume that I've been hankering after for a long time. He did so very well for someone who doesn't like Birthdays...lots of brownie points scored! He must have also sweet talked the sales assistant as she threw in some lovely samples of new perfumes and products for me too.

Mummy & Daddy BB bought me the lovely nude heels, they've got a chunky heel so are ridiculously comfy (I must be getting old...) as well as a pretty bunch of flowers and little chocolate Birthday cake.

Bringing the macaroons home did mean that we got to enjoy them on pretty china, although of course I did make Mr BB wait until I'd taken lots of pictures before he was allowed a taste!!

London, Baby

2011-07-03T19:43:00.003Z

Image source

It's been another tough week, hence my sparse posts, but I've got a very lovely few days planned so I'm trying to allow myself to enjoy that.

First stop is an early Birthday trip to London, where I've been promised a trip to London Zoo, a stroll around my old haunts of Waterlow Park and Hampstead Heath and a grand plan to lose my macaroon virginity at Ladurée.

I'm not sure if it's the light at the end of the tunnel or the calm before the storm, but either way I'll still be standing and I'll see you in a few days!

Who needs a farmers Market?

2011-07-03T07:47:00.002Z

Who needs a farmers market when I have the 'in laws' beautiful garden? Rhubarb crumble and a house full of beautiful flowers...making me smile.

Dining room update

2011-06-29T19:09:00.006Z

It's not as finished as I would have liked by now, but I thought you might like to see a sneaky peek at our almost there dining room!

On Saturday we papered the walls with the same Laura Ashley wallpaper as we have in the living room area - the kitchen, dining room and living room are open plan in an L shape so the two papered walls are opposite each other.

Before... (this was the day we got keys)

And after...

Daddy BB built me the two fabulous bookcases and I spent the weekend painting them. Unfortunately I ran out of paint on Sunday, five minutes before the shops shut! Hence why one remains partially unpainted with the cabinet doors off at the bottom. I'm going to get some little glass door pulls to fit on and need to go on a search of the house for pretty bits to display!

The Union Jack on the bureau is on it's way out and will soon be replaced by solid cream, and I'm going to hang a few pictures above it. I'm sure I'll be back with finished photos soon - at least I hope I will be!

Scorchio!

2011-06-28T16:44:00.000Z

Phew! I don't know about where you are but our weather has been truly scorching for the last couple of days. I've been dreaming of beautiful things for the garden - how lovely would this gazebo from the Very site look accompanied with some pastel coloured Lloyd Loom style furniture, strings of fairy lights and paper flowers and a great big jug of cocktails?

Lazy Sunday afternoon

2011-06-26T19:57:00.004Z

I think I've told you before how much I love the quiet, more rugged end of our local beach.

After a couple of days working hard on decorating the dining room (the reveal isn't far away!) we decided to take a much needed break and stroll along the shore this evening.

We bought a couple of cheeky Mr Whippy's and ate them as we walked...

(the wind is blowing my dress out, I'm not that wide really!)

We sat for a while, watched the yachts and liners sailing by...

...and enjoyed the scenery.

We even made a friend!

How have you been enjoying the sunshine this weekend?

2011-06-25T23:25:00.003Z

All images: Dunelm-mill.com

It's as if Dunelm Mill have had a root around inside my head and picked out every single trend I'm loving at the moment. I could quite happily give any of these beautiful cushions a good home. I daren't look at the rest of the site.

Pleasures in my day

2011-06-24T16:36:00.005Z

I've been busy with the 'day job' again today and am looking forwards to my first weekend off in two months. I have some decorating plans but tonight I'm going foraging for pink wine then firmly parking my derriere on the sofa until bedtime. Bliss.

I decided that before I crash out for the evening I'd have a little wander around the garden. It's been a little neglected this week, with the rain busy keeping it alive for me. The short stroll threw up a few simple pleasures I thought I'd pop along and share them with you...

Homegrown strawberries, fresh from the plant.

I'm hoping for second time lucky with my courgette...the first one rotted!

Self set poppies in the most beautiful shades of coral and mauve - one just shed its petals but as soon as another blooms I'll take a photo! The neighbours think that they're weeds because they grow along the path, but I'm quite happy to be thought of as lazy if it means this beautiful view greets me in the morning.

A glut of lettuces. Enough to feed me, my friends, my family...

...and a family of snails too!

I threw together a chilli & lime aubergine salad for dinner...probably not the most appealing photo (Mr BB said it looks like old banana...niiiice) but it was quick, easy and delicious!

Reaching over 300 followers has certainly cheered me up, especially since it's been less than a month since my 250 followers giveaway! Looks like there'll be another one in the pipeline....

And lastly I'm going to leave you with a sneaky peek of something Daddy BB made for me this week...one of my dining room projects over the weekend. Any ideas what it might be?!

Hope you all have a lovely Friday, I'll see you soon!

Catching up

2011-06-23T16:25:00.004Z

Thank you so much for your kind comments on my last post. I thought I'd pop in for a catch up on the last few days before it gets too far away!

Sunday was, of course, Father's Day. I was hoping I'd be able to find a suitably embarrassing photograph of Daddy BB to share for the occasion but luckily for him they seem to have disappeared off my computer (funny that he is an IT professional...just a coincidence?!). I had to work all day so my parents came round for dinner in the evening. I gave my Dad a silver record frame from www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk that he has since filled with a very well co-ordinating cover!

He also accompanied this photograph with some geeky information (sorry, Dad!) about the 'Yes' album so if anyone desperately wants to know any more details just leave me a comment ;)

Image source

The last couple of days have been spent with a mix of hospital appointments, chilling and housework (in no particular order). My friend came round last night and we cooked fajitas with homemade guacamole...yum yum!

I've had a very chilly and wet day out at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park today. Well worth a visit if you're in the area but try to pick a warm day because it's all outside...brrr!

Image source

I fell in love with the bouncy baby lemurs - if I thought it would have kept still I could have quite happily popped one in my pocket when no-one was looking! Not sure Cassie-cat or Mr Bibbitybob would have been so keen...

There's been some very exciting work going on around Casa Bibbitybob this week. I've a couple of jobs to do this weekend but then I'll be able to do a mini dining room reveal! I hope you're all having a good week...I'll try not to leave it so long next time...

Lost my way

2011-06-21T20:45:00.001Z

Image credit

I'm having severe brain fog and exhaustion at the moment so please forgive the lack of posts. When I manage to see my way again I'll be back with lots to show you...I promise it won't be too long!

Saturday

2011-06-18T17:58:00.003Z

Today I worked. Then I spent the late afternoon reliving my teenage CD collection. Everything sounds much prettier through Cath Kidston. Notice we have curtains now too? The dining room is almost finished!

I'm keeping this short and sweet as I'm just about to skip off to a friend's house, bottle of pink wine in hand. I thought I'd show you the vintage style tea dress I'm wearing...look how well it matches my blue nails!

Tonight's make up, just because it looked good out on my dressing table. To the left you can just spot the vintage glass bowl I keep it all in!

L-R: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, Body Shop Divide & Multiply mascara (because my Dior Show has run out...I'm hoping for Birthday money to replace it!), Body Shop mineral bronzer, Screenface concealer trio, MAC Strobe cream mixed up with MAC Face & Body Foundation, Nars 'Orgasm' blush & Urban Decay Naked pallette.

I hope you're all enjoying your weekend!

Mavala Lagoon

2011-06-17T18:56:00.003Z

It's only relatively recently that I've come around to the idea of wearing coloured nails, but I've since stuck to a rather safe pallette of coral, hot pink & 'greige'.

After much admiration, today I finally took the plunge and treated myself to a new polish in 'Lagoon' - a gorgeous, almost duck egg blue. It's a beautiful colour but as it's not a shade of pink, it's still taking some getting used to!

What's your favourite nail polish colour?

Zzzz

2011-06-16T19:30:00.002Z

Remember the lovely Cath Kidston filled basket that Cassie-cat refused to sleep in?

Guess who's in the good books again tonight...!

Cath Kidston crazy

2011-06-14T16:15:00.007Z

After all that crazy rain at the weekend the sun has more than made up for its absence today! I had a lovely cup of tea and chatter with a friend this morning and came home feeling very inspired to finish a few little projects off.

Do you remember the little sewing basket I bought from the car boot on Sunday? Typically I didn't get a proper 'before' photo with the manky red silky lining but after a bit of fiddling she's now sporting a beautiful new floral Cath Kidston interior!

I'm not mad keen on the striped ribbon along the bottom edge so I'll swap that for something a bit plainer once I find just the right thing. I think the vintage lace looks sweet around the padded lid though!

Another project from the boot sale was this pair of wooden candle sticks. I've been wanting to bring some of the chalky duck egg colour from the kitchen into the living area to tie it all together so these are the first step.

Daddy BB came round earlier to measure up and begin planning the bookcases he's building for us. I'm very excited as it will be a giant step towards the dining area looking 'something like'. We ended up chatting about my ancient stereo system (think 90's boombox!) and how I'm planning to get a little micro system soon.

My Dad is a bit of a technical whizz and fixed me up a lovely set of wooden speakers a few years ago. The sound quality is fantastic, so any stereo always gets hooked up to them. Unfortunately, as with most audio equipment, they aren't the prettiest!

The newspaper underneath is a bit of a giveaway isn't it?! After seeking his approval I decided to get paintbrush and staple gun happy...I'm not sure why I didn't do this years ago.

Anyway, a couple of coats of good old 'Dimity', a quick distress on the edges and a new Cath Kidston fabric cover and....ta-daaah! I have my very own bespoke Cath Kidston speakers!

Now I think these will be pretty enough to display in the living room and I won't be forever looking at the ugly wooden boxes in the corner.

Much better, don't you think?

Homegrown salad

2011-06-13T17:12:00.003Z

You're still more than welcome to a radish but how about some lettuce, basil, spinach, rocket, beet greens, radish greens, chives or baby onions?

I'm not sure I can put into words quite how excited I am to be eating the first fully home grown salad of the year. Fresh from the garden, organic and full of flavour...yum!

Maybe my fingers are a little green after all!!

Car boot bargains

2011-06-12T16:16:00.004Z

We've spent this afternoon watching the rain out the window. I worked outside in it yesterday so today it feels like a luxury to be warm and dry. I know how ancient this makes me sound, but "it will do the plants good".

Luckily when I woke up the weather was glorious so the car boot was on...not as big as last week, but more shabby chic bargains.

A pair of wooden candlesticks, 50p - I didn't remember to take a photo of these until I'd started prepping them to paint. If I can make a dash through the rain to the garage I'll hopefully get the top coat on these before bedtime.

Wooden box files, 3 for 75p. I see a wallpaper project coming up!

This clock may have been a mistake - I think I'll have cake cravings whenever I check the time! Lovely for 50p though, and it means my little floral one will move from the kitchen to the bathroom.

Glass & silver hurricane candle holder, 50p plus the little curvy crystal decanter I picked up at the Antique & Home show.

My favourite buy of the day was this little sewing basket for £1. It was chocked full of sewing bits including the sweet little vintage needle case you can see sat on top of it.

It was super grubby when I got it. I took the photo below - you can see the clean white bit at the bottom compared with the original state...yuck! I've ripped out the dirty interior and am planning to renovate it in some Cath Kidston fabric.

But do you know the best bit? In within all the fabric, needles and cotton there was £5.15 in change.

Now that's what I call a bargain!

Did your weather hold up for the car boots? I hope you're all having a lovely Sunday.

Laura Ashley goodies

2011-06-09T18:02:00.002Z

Good evening lovelies! Despite my best efforts I'm struggling to stay awake again tonight, so I thought I'd just pop in and share the goodie bag I received from the Laura Ashley press show...

Clockwise from left: 2012 Diary, ditsy 'Mille Fleur' make up bag, 2012 calendar, boxed rococo garden soap & long necklace.

The soap smells absolutely divine and the necklace is absolutely gorgeous - just my style! Here's a close up...

If you follow Laura Ashley on twitter they're offering a chance to win one of the goodie bags so if you like what you see, hop on over to Twitter!

The eagle eyed among you may have spotted an extra item in the top photo - after I commented on the lovely scent of the candle burning at the show a lovely young man disappeared into a cupboard and came back with one for me to take home! It's rhubard & vanilla and smells absolutely divine (and I haven't bought myself to burn it yet!).

Then I joked that I liked the sofa next to us too. He told me with a very straight face that I'd have to come back after 9. I'm still trying to work out whether he was being serious...

And the winner is...

2011-06-09T06:56:00.003Z

Thank you so much to all of you who entered my vintage giveaway! I wish I had enough to give you all a lovely prize.

My random number generator (aka Mr Bibbitybob) did his work last night and the winner is.....

Victoria from Florence & Mary!

Time to try and find some energy to go to the day job now...I'm hoping tonight I'll get some time to catch up on everyone else's blogs and respond to all the lovely comments I've had lately. I do appreciate every one of them, I've just had no time lately. See you all later!

Lincolnshire Antique & Home Show

2011-06-08T16:29:00.007Z

Hello, everyone! I hope you're all well today. I've had another very lovely day today - Carrad & I took a drive to the Arthur Swallow Antique & Home Show at the Lincolnshire Showground. What a treat!

Unfortunately as it was the last day lots of the stallholders had either left or were spending the day packing up, but we still got lots of lovely bargains...one plus side to it being the last day was that some were slashing prices!

I found myself having a bit of a basket obsession so had to take this photograph - wicker galore!

Speaking of wicker, I picked up this Lloyd Loom-esque chair for a snip at £3.50! It took a bit of haggling and will need a good new paint, but it's perfect for the summerhouse.

I also picked up this wooden tea chest! I've been after one of these for years, so I was very excited to see a giant pile of them going cheap. I know it's upside down at the moment but I'm going to either put a new lid on so I can stand it the right way up, or fill it with plants.

If anyone can identify this they can have a gold star!

I picked it up thinking the main body would look lovely as a little planter, but it has a funny upside down lid with a hole in the middle. Answers on a postcard please!

And I did succumb to one basket in the end...

I made a little Cath Kidston cushion for it this afternoon in the hope that Cassie-cat would use it, but in typical cat fashion she's not keen.

I couldn't get her to sit still long enough to snap a photo - I may have to resort to biscuit bribery!

Last call for my giveaway

2011-06-07T20:36:00.002Z

Don't forget that my Vintage Giveaway ends midnight tonight (GMT) - hop on over and leave me your comment to be in with a chance of winning some lovely goodies!

Make sure you're a public follower of this blog, and feel free to tweet for an extra entry (let me know in your comment that you've done this, and please include my name so I can see it @bibbity_bob).

Good luck!!

Laura Ashley AW11 Preview

2011-06-07T19:18:00.009Z

Hello! It's been a busy couple of days for the Bibbitybob's and you'll be pleased to know that we're back home (for now!) and normal photography has resumed!

Mr BB's best friend invited us down to stay with him in London for a few days - I worked until lunchtime on Mon and have exciting plans for tomorrow, so we squeezed a flying visit in. Activities included an Ikea trip, a long cider drinking session (the boys finally fell asleep just as I got up at 7am this morning...!), lunch with my friend and an exciting visit to the Autumn Winter 2011 Laura Ashley Press Show!

Isn't the little vintage car stuffed with fabric suitcases so cute? It was the entrance to the show, and really set the tone! I know lots of you are Laura Ashley fans, so I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite bits...(warning, image heavy!)

Mille Fleurs ditsy print bedlinen...

...mixed with the 'Pimlico' photographic range of vintage Laura Ashley images.

Sofa & cushions in Gosford Floral fabric - a very classic look with lots of dark wood, glass and amethyst accessories...

The new 'camomile' lemon mixed with chunky, textured neutrals...

A continuation of bird trends with these cute owl bookends and the 'bluebird' print range...

Lots of gorgeous embroidery seen on fabrics, bedding and cushions...

Bright colour combinations - I love the dramatic mix of the fuschia with bright orange, black & gold...

And not forgetting Christmas in June!

A mixture of their 'novelty' range, classic red & gold and silver 'Winter Wonderland' - these mirrored coasters have been added to the top of my wishlist for my living room, they'd be perfect all year round!

I hope you all enjoyed the little (well...quite big really!) sneak preview. I had a lovely time and even came away with a goodie bag - I'll save that for another post!

DIY fail

2011-06-06T23:24:00.002Z

I think it's really sweet that our host fitted the bathroom door because he knew I was coming, but it's a shame he didn't notice the great big window next to it!!

Ikea fail

2011-06-06T21:19:00.001Z

Don't let anyone tell you that ikea is quiet at night. It's really not. All this way and all I bought was 100 tealights. Epic fail.

Car boot booty

2011-06-05T18:52:00.004Z

This morning's car booty haul was a little different to usual. No vintage goodies to share, and no super pretty bits either. But I did come home with a big pile of books, mostly 'mind, body & spirit' happy clappy stuff, but also a copy of 'Mary Rose's 1001 Country Household Hints' - I have this book and love it, so when I spotted it I thought I'd but it to add to my giveaway goodies!

Our walls are still looking very bare downstairs, so when I spotted this giant NYC oil painting for £5 I snapped it up! It's a bit different to my usual 'style', but I love it. The colours are a little more muted in real life and I think it brings the blue from the kitchen through to the living room nicely.

Image source: Ikea

I also bought a huuuge Ikea RIBBA frame with a lovely black & white beach print in, for £1. I'm not keeping the print in there (I'd prefer our own photography on the walls) but it was definitely worth it for the frame! Once I've decided where it's going to go, I'll give it a lick of paint and show you it.

Image source: B&Q

It's not a very interesting buy, but I picked up a 'build your own BBQ' kit too. I'd love a brick BBQ in the space between our raised beds...I guess I'll have to do lots of nice smiling at Daddy Bibbitybob...

One of my favourite buys of the day was this lovely, soft scarf for 20p. It may be hideously out of season but it will be lovely and snuggly in winter. Very 'Boden'!

And please accept my apologies for subjecting you to my legs twice in one week, but I just wanted to share my new shorts with you...

My favourite slouchy Gap jeans finally gave up the ghost this week, with a great big hole in the knee. I've been after a pair of light wash shorts for a while so decided to get happy with a pair of scissors...classic 'make do and mend' project! I wasn't keen on the raw edges so sewed a rolled up cuff...I love them!

(You can tell by the tan lines on my legs that they're slightly shorter than my others...best get on that treadmill!)

I hope you all had a lovely, productive (or nice and lazy!!) weekend. I've got a very exciting week planned, starting with a rather impromptu trip down South...I've downloaded BlogPress for my phone so hopefully I'll be able to keep you updated while I'm away.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway - entries will close at midnight (GMT) on Tuesday!

Sunshine, again!

2011-06-03T18:57:00.002Z

It's been another glorious day here. Lots of blue sky and singing birds!

I spent this morning sunning myself in the garden, still reading through 'Men, Money & Chocolate' (which I am loving, by the way! I had to stop reading as my head was buzzing with so much inspiration and positivity!).

This afternoon we took a drive down to the beach for another inline skating session, followed by a great big ice cream (complete with cheeky flake!).

Today, life was good.

Bibbitybob loves

2011-06-02T18:08:00.008Z

I'm super sleepy tonight, so thought rather than trying to unjumble my mind, I'd do another 'Bibbitybob loves' list!

♥ New additions to the kitchen ♥ - my new sparrow salad bowl from www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk. The sparrows sit on the side of the bowl and double up as spoons....so cute!

♥ Sunshine ♥ - after a miserable, windy month, it's great to have the sunshine back again.

♥ Reading ♥ - I've not made much time for it lately, but I'm hoping to finish my new book before the weekend (so I can make a start on the sequel!)

♥ Days off ♥ - after a crazy half term spent traveling round and about the next county delivering art workshops, I'm dreaming about long, hot villa holidays that I can't afford, the Birthday break I'm planning in London and a big, fluffy lie in tomorrow morning.

♥ Fresh flowers from the garden ♥ - my Mum sent me home with this beautiful bunch of flowers picked from her garden earlier in the week. They're currently sitting by my bed and greet me with a beautiful scent every morning.

♥ Hot showers ♥ - yes, you read it right. We have a working, HOT shower. We've spent 2 weeks without hot water and 9 months without a shower so the newest addition to the household is absolute bliss.

♥ Giveaways ♥ - as well as my vintage giveaway (there's still time to add your name to the virtual hat!), there seems to be lots of people sharing the love in blogland. Head over and visit kandipandi & LissyLou, who are both giving away lovely prizes!

♥ My favourite people ♥ - I couldn't resist snapping this shot before I came upstairs...I guess sleepyness is catching in this house!

Early morning chill out

2011-06-01T21:08:00.002Z

I had a rude awakening at 6.30 this morning by Mr Bibbitybob and his insomniac elephant feet. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise though, as I got to enjoy the early morning sunshine whilst I ate a bowl of strawberries and blueberries, drank a nice strong cuppa and caught up with the latest issue of House & Garden magazine.

For a while I had that wonderful, chilled out, holiday feeling.

Bliss!

Bibbitybob's Vintage Giveaway

2011-05-31T18:51:00.007Z

Evening all! Do you remember a couple of weeks ago I showed you a vintage salt & pepper set that I was planning to giveaway to celebrate reaching 250 followers? Well, I hope you like them because I've now got 4 really cute little matching egg cups too!

To be in with a chance to win these and a selection of other little goodies, you must be a public follower of this blog, and all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. Entries will be drawn in one week (7th June, 2011). If you'd like a second entry feel free to tweet or blog the giveaway (you're welcome to use the little image above), just let me know in your comment! If you could tag me (@bibbity_bob) in your tweets so I can see them that would be great.

Edit: Giveaway is now CLOSED! Come back soon to see if you're the lucky winner!

Homegrown

2011-05-31T07:43:00.000Z

Radish, anyone?

H&M mini spree

2011-05-30T12:39:00.006Z

All images: hm.com

I blame the bad weather for keeping me indoors, and the fact that many of the items I've been basket dancing with for the last few weeks had been reduced this morning, but this little lot for under £20 isn't really too naughty of me!

Plus that bottle of wine I mentioned yesterday was swapped for a rather huge Ikea Pax wardrobe!

I'd seen them for sale on eBay and when I e-mailed on the off chance the seller a buy it now price in mind I was told I could have them for nothing! So yesterday we drove to a village about 30 miles away, to a gorgeous little barn conversion where an incredibly lovely chap made us cups of tea whilst we dismantled them and then helped us shift them downstairs. He also threw in two little white bedside tables and sent me a lovely e-mail this morning to check we'd got them home alright. He was grateful to have them out the way, and we were ridiculously grateful to take them. Plus my faith in human kindness has been restored...a bottle of wine didn't seem enough really!

I'd planned to paint them cream but they're actually a lovely oak colour which I think will look nice when we eventually get decorated and a pale carpet down. I'll probably change the handles to something a bit more in keeping and get some pretty storage boxes to go on top, but they're great.

The only problem now is that it looks like I haven't got many clothes. The perfect excuse for my mini spree then, I suppose!!

Follow me on Twitter

2011-05-30T09:41:00.003Z

Image credit

Ok, so I finally caved and downloaded the Twitter app for my iPhone. I still feel a bit lost in the big wide tweety world but I'm determined to make an effort.

Does anybody want to come and talk to me? I feel like the new girl at school!

bibbity_bob

Saturday night's alright (without the fighting)

2011-05-29T06:36:00.004Z

I'd like it on record that after a rather heavy night, I was up and bouncing around before 7am. That time of day is unheard of in this house, let alone after a drinking session that lasted well into the early hours!

Yesterday, after a major gutting of the house (the power tools even made it back to the garage!), lots of dusting and hoovering (because we still have plaster dust lurking) and a much needed lawn mowing session, I donned my pinny and threw myself into a mini cooking frenzy.

I usually struggle for 'nibbles' ideas but after trying some Mediterranean tarts at a friend's house earlier in the week I decided to have a bash at making them. The only difference was that she had a magic little mini baking tin and tool to create perfect vol-au-vent shaped cases (I believe hers were from a Pampered Chef party, but I was recommended Lakeland last night) whereas mine were a bit splodgy...they still tasted really good though!

I served them with homemade guacamole, sour cream & chive dip and salsa made with some of the Nacho Fiesta cheeseball mix that my friend bought me for Christmas, as well as tortilla chips and some of the new Penn State Worcester sauce pretzels (even Mr BB, who says he "hates" pretzels couldn't get enough of these...they were scrummy!). If anyone would like me to share any of the recipes, just let me know.

One of my friends brought me a lovely little lavender plant as a gift. I can't get a decent photograph of it, but it looks lovely with our kitchen tiles. My usual gardening guru, Mummy BB, is away for the week so I thought I'd ask here...can lavender be kept as a house plant? I'd love to find a pretty pot and keep it inside, we're lacking greenery at the moment!

I'll be back later hopefully - I'd like to share some pictures of my raised beds planted up (yaaawwn, I hear you say!), I've finally got my giveaway bits together, and I'm due to make a very exciting swap this afternoon. A bottle of Barolo for......? You'll have to wait and see!!

How does your garden grow?

2011-05-27T21:47:00.005Z

One of my favourite things about blogging is that it gives me a reason to take lots of photographs of things that might otherwise get ignored. I posted this photo of my veggie baskets on my blog 10 days ago and wow, what a difference to how they are looking today...!

I've been thinking that they hadn't grown much lately but the rain does seem to have worked some kind of magic.

We've eaten a few spinach leaves and cut our second bag full of rocket, and it's growing back nicely already.

I even tried to count how many strawberries were in my basket but gave up in the end. There's definitely a good punnet full, assuming they all keep growing and ripen nicely for me. Must. Remember. To. Water. Gosh, I wish growing came naturally to me!

Mummy BB bought me lots of trays of seedlings and they're finally ready to go out. Our local council were selling off bags of compost for £1 each today (always worth checking out whether your local do too - it's saved me a fortune!) so Daddy BB very kindly filled up his big car boot for me.

We have friends coming for drinks tomorrow night so I'm hoping to spend the day planting up my new raised beds and getting the garden tidied up again, as well as finishing off that list of annoying little jobs in the house!

What are your weekend plans?

25% off a doodle speaker

2011-05-27T13:58:00.005Z

After I posted about my little Cath Kidston-a-like speaker, the lovely people at OrigAudio e-mailed and offered me a 20% discount for my readers! Edit: there was a bit of a mix up with the codes, so by way of apology they have upped the discount to a whopping 25%! Just enter BIBBITYBOB25 at checkout to receive your discount.

If you order a speaker, please do come back and show me your designs, I'd love to see your creations.

Code will be valid until the end of June 2011 - perfect timing for Father's Day!

Spend vs. Save

2011-05-25T19:04:00.011Z

It's been a busy couple of days in the Bibbitybob household - I made a list of small, fiddly jobs that I wanted to do and worked my way through them. I'm pleased to say there are only a couple of things left on the list!

I've banned myself from starting to decorate the bedroom until everywhere else we've started is complete so we've got some of the small bits done - curtains shortened, hold backs fitted, paintwork painted (beautifully, until Cassie-cat decided to go and sit on a wet window ledge!), paint scraped off windows etc. It's amazed me what a difference some of the little touches have made. I love the hold backs I bought for the downstairs - I'd been admiring similar in Laura Ashley for around £30 a pair (yikes!) so I was really chuffed when I found these in Wilkinson's sale for less than £3 a pair (they're back up to full price now, but only £7.47 at that).

Sticking with glass and sparkly, I've been admiring Bombay Duck's gorgeous door knobs for years and years but at nearly 50 squid a pair I never thought I'd be able to afford them. Then I spotted a company on eBay selling pairs almost identical to these for £13.99!

Spot the difference! The door still needs stripping and re-painting, but I was just too excited to wait. Three of the pairs arrived damaged so once the seller has replaced them and I'm happy with their customer service I'll give you all a link!

Another 'spend vs. save' bargain of the week is a little bit of Cath Kidston love.

I'm sure you've all spotted the Roberts Radio - gorgeous, but pricey! So when I heard about the new Doodle - an ipod/MP3 player speaker that you can have your own image printed on - I had a brainwave.

I used one of the downloadable Cath Kidston wallpapers as my image (these are great to print for craft projects too!) and I love it! It's much smaller than the radio, and obviously does a bit of a different job but it looks so pretty and is only £29.95.

It probably sounds a bit silly, but one of my favourite things about it is that the lead that I plug into my iPod is fixed onto the speaker...I am terrible for losing leads so this means I can just plug and go. I've been chilling out in the summerhouse with Adele keeping me company this evening, perfect!

And lastly (sorry if this is turning into an essay..!) I gave Daddy BB a bit of a 'Blue Peter' challenge this week.

What do you get when you take one clever Dad, an old bed...

Two gorgeous old doors (beautiful, but too twisted and cracked to hang)...

And a pile of scrap pallet wood & old shelving...

Why...a pair of rather fancy raised beds, of course! Much cheaper than the ones I've been eyeing up at the local DIY shed.

I'm planning to give them a coat of paint to hide all the different colours of wood, paint the garage walls and hang some trellis panels. Roll on green beans and sweet peas all through the Summer!

Wentworth Garden Centre

2011-05-21T19:06:00.007Z

Well, the secret's out the bag and we've come home crazy tired after a wonderful day out at Wentworth Garden Centre & walled gardens.

I can't remember which blogger posted photos of their visit (if it was you, please let me know! Edit: it was Rebecca!) but I e-mailed my Dad a few months ago suggesting that green fingered Mummy BB would enjoy a day out there. So this morning we all jumped in the car, armed with secret spending money, and off we went.

Mummy BB was thrilled with the garden centre (and what's not to love...it's huuuge, beautifully presented and full of gorgeous products!) and treated herself to a clematis, a gorgeous hot pink hydrangea and a beautiful pot to put it in.

I was very good in the interiors & gift section...it was filled with lovely house-y bits, looads of silk flowers and shabby chic but I kept my money in my bag and stuck to 'ooh-ing' and 'aah-ing' instead.

My favourite part of the surprise was that my big Brother took the train over from his home in Manchester and cycled up to meet us. I nipped off "to the toilet" and came back with him in tow!

We found a beautiful, peaceful spot for our picnic...

...fed a deer (grass, not picnic!)...

...finished the day off with a walk past Wentworth Hall...

...and a game or ten of frisbee!

One of the best bits was that Mr BB took some beautiful photographs of my family & I - it's very rare we get together and even rarer that we all get in front of a camera so I feel some printing and framing coming on.

It's been a wonderful day, and I hope that Mummy BB enjoyed herself as much as I did! If anyone's in the vicinity of Rotherham, I'd suggest a visit is well worth it and making a day of it is even better.

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend too!

Birthday treats

2011-05-20T20:02:00.004Z

Thank you for all yesterday's Birthday wishes for Mummy B - I shall pass them on!

She loved her present and now that she's seen it I can share with you...although some of you already knew what it was...

I made my own on Photoshop but if you wanted to order one without the hassle then you can buy one at notonthehighstreet.com (can you tell I'm feeling a little guilty about the blatant rip off?!).

The good news is that she loved it, as well as the little pearl semi-charm bracelet I made her. The best news is that the treats aren't over...we're going for a surprise day out tomorrow. I'll definitely be sharing it with you all when I get home - it has been planned for months and was inspired by someone out in blog land!

After feeling poorly for the last few days I am so ridiculously glad that it's the weekend! I've done most of my preparation for our trip tomorrow, so for now I'm going to curl up with my boy, a bottle of pink wine (I've never tried 'blush' wine before, although I love white zinfandel!) and The King's Speech.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Bloglovin'

2011-05-20T17:05:00.002Z

After following Diamond Solitaire's link over to bloglovin' (I'm a nosey so-and-so) I discovered that I'm already listed on there.

Weird! But if you use it and want to follow me...Follow my blog with bloglovin!

Happy Birthday, Mummy B!

2011-05-19T17:14:00.004Z

I thought I'd share a sneaky peek of one of the presents I've made for Mummy Bibbitybob's Birthday. Anyone familiar with notonthehighstreet.com will probably recognise the idea - it was one of those 'oooh I could make that' moments.

I'm hoping Mummy B is safely tucked away in a dark room with Johnny Depp at the moment, so there's no risk of her spoiling the surprise before I can give it to her over dinner tonight, but just in case I'll save the wide shot until another time!

For all those who were interested in how to make the bird feeder, it's simply a case of using resin glue to attach the cup to the saucer and then glueing a copper end cap (google it!) to the base of the saucer. Then a piece of copper pipe is stuck into the ground and the end cap fits onto the end of it - voila!

I used an over sized set, but I can imagine it looking really cute with a dainty china cup! If you try it, do let me know.

And in other news, I've made it to 250 followers since my last post (thanks, and welcome to my newest additions!) so the giveaway will be posted very soon. For now though, I'm going to raid my wardrobe for something to wear to dinner with my family.

Hope you all have a lovely evening!

2011-05-18T21:22:00.004Z

I'm nearly at 250 followers and have started to collect a little thrifty vintage haul to give away.

Don't you think these retro salt and pepper pots are just so cute? I've forced myself to show them to you so I can't sneak them into my own collection!

A day wasted...

2011-05-17T18:28:00.004Z

Today's been one of those weird days where I feel like I've done very little, yet it's the evening already! Please tell me I'm not the only one who has days like this?!

The wallpaper was still looking lovely this morning and here's a much less yellow photograph for you! The paint has a lovely green tinge to it in certain lights, and it looks white in others. Another real life photo, mucky floor and paint pots too!

And still they come..! My lovely Mr BB made a start on the plumbing for the new boiler last night so we've been without water for 24 hours. The old beast is now keeping my veggies company in the garden.

I can't believe I've managed to not only grow these from seed but keep them alive!

Due to lack of water in this house I took a shower mission to my parents' house. I thought I'd share this little bird feeder I made for my Mum a couple of years ago. I think it looks really cute nestled in her flower beds.

I took a photo of this beautiful clematis my Mum has grown too...I don't seem to have inherited her green fingers as growing really doesn't seem to come naturally to me, but I am trying!

Hopefully tomorrow will feel a bit more productive!

Hallway sneaky peek

2011-05-16T20:26:00.003Z

I can't remember where I read it but I once saw someone liken a house renovation to childbirth...it's not until you're doing it again that you remember why you swore you'd only do it the once.

After an evening of painting, more painting, wallpapering and forgetting to eat...I get it.

I swear the wallpaper isn't yellow in 'real life' and apologies to anyone who comes to read this blog thinking they're going to get beautifully staged photos. I do real world here, manky floor an' all!