I am reading... Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

I know I should be reading my Book Club book but I want to read that a bit closer to the date so that it is fresh in my mind. In the meantime I'm reading this book and so far I am intrigued and eager to find out what's going on. I did mention in an earlier post that I wanted to read Jane Austen but mum scared me with ghost stories last night when I needed something new to read so I was too scared to go out to the cellar and search for Jane and I'm actually glad I didn't know...this has a real eerie but addictive feel to it...

Ohh So That's What They Are Called..."Subway tiles!"

I have been thinking about my bathroom/kitchen of the future lately and in both there will be tiles. But I was thinking about rectangular tiles for my bathroom I love the look of them and have just found out they are referred to as "Subway tiles." They don't have to be white, and they don't have to be all over but I like 'em a lot!

Stacking Up...

Mum and I were in the attic the other day and amongst the wool and patterns I blogged about earlier there were tonnes of old photos. They were just in one old suitcase getting all dog eared and wrinkled along with cards from our births and birthdays and drawing and things my siblings and I
had done. I hate to see the photo's all unloved like that so I have decided to put them in albums (more fool me) There are some of my brothers and sisters in clothes my mum had made, and funky poloroids of my aunts and grandma in the 70's when Mac make up was obviously wasn't established because old grandma's make up is looking a little grey hehe.

Ever one for a bargain, I saw some photo albums in a shop a day or two after that I couldn't afford to leave. They were all a lil sterile and dull so I have just recovered them with some pretty fabrics and I kinda love the way they have turned out. I am going to need lots more than the five I have covered but that is all I could physically carry out of the shop at the time and I'm glad because if I had to do another cover today I might scream :-)

First Book Club Meeting...

I went to my first book club tonight a little anxious that I would have nothing smart to say or wouldn't feel comfortable to speak but I loved it - They were a real friendly, mixed bunch and they had good biscuits :-)

I really want to know more about their backgrounds now, it's soo interesting to hear what others thing and how they interpreted the same things that you have read. It was good to find out that you liked the same parts or completely missed hints the author had dropped and to be pointed to beautiful pieces that needed re- reading. I hope my new working hours don't prevent me from going next month - I really can't wait to go again. Walking out of the library Manchester looked beautiful too... The library has always been one of my favourite places but it looked lovely in tonights light, maybe it's because I just read a beautiful love story, maybe I was just in a good mood as it was still warm and the city was buzzing with Freshers excited to have chosen the city. It may have been because I was going for a walk and listening to Sweet Disposition and not driving stressfully trying to get somewhere in my car. Could have been that the people who were at the book club also made me think about about other up and coming things that the city had to offer, it maybe because I got to talk to a New Yorker, it could just be meeting new faces.. It's probrably all of the above but whatever the case I enjoyed my evening.

The next months book is Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse, Hope I enjoy it! I will let you know...

se.

Life is Like a Nintendo Wii .....You Never know What Your Gonna Get...

This morning I was woken by a text and shocked out of a weird dream I was having (with very vivid colours come to think of it.) Anyway the text was from a person I haven't heard from in a while and didn't really expect to hear from but that person was in my dream - really randomly. This has happened before a person is not really a main part of my dream but they might be my taxi driver or walk past me in a shop. An old aunt will be on the bus goin by, a colleague will be in my back car going and i won't be talking to them. I will go to someones house but its a completely different person who lives there and i know that as it is the new person I am going to see. I think my friend last night was working for a gangster and trying to kill me in a New York cab lol.

Just like on a Nintendo Wii where the people that have been created are stored and can randomly pop up in your games as background characters. People I have met and known are just popping into my dreams lately like extras with no significance to what is goin on in our everyday lives or relationships. - Yup this new pillow is really making my head go funny - or is that just the case with everyone's dreams?

Me, You and Everyone We Know....

Randomly thinking of the shows from this film today whilst Cody Chestnut sings "still here" from the soundtrack in my head. Isn't it strange how a song from a movie can transport you right back to the specific time or the feelings you felt whilst watching it? Random... I think my new pillow is messing with my mind lol

If you could judge a book by its cover.....

If you could judge a book by its cover.....I would really believe that these books were beautiful and filled with lovely stories.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Virago Modern Classics they have produced a series of eight of their favourite hardbacks with cover artwork by twentieth-century women textile designers, including Lucienne Day, Cath Kidston, Orla Kiely, Celia Birtwell, and founder of Biba, Barbara Hulanicki.

Absolutely gorgeous... I now want them all.

It's all a bit pants!

Indeed I was today... Today I was wearing a quite a pretty top that unfortunately sticks to all my lumps and bumps so I needed some help from those suck it all in pants. They work a treat but I can't be the only one who has the problem of feeling like my insides are being squashed up against each other and trying to force their way out of my mouth... Geeze !

Note to self do not try and wear these magic pants all day... you may die!

Wooo Shake It Sisters

Well Beyonce did say that she was inspired by Fosse and his wife Gwen- who is one of the dancers in this video but I am lvin the original Beyonce- there are so many clips of this dance put to other hip hop songs online - it makes for hillarious viewing :-) I nearly choked when my friend first showed me a version hehehe - These ladies can move!

OOOOh hidden treasures..

Mum never really likes to throw anything away and I am constantly finding things in the house that have been in storage for years. She had a huge box of old knitting needles in our cellar and the other day I found this bag of yarn in the loft that will now be added to my growing stash.
I also found some old patterns - I love the illustrations on them soo cute and I'd love to make one of those kids coats (when I can actually sew that is)

Wardrobe Turned Noticeboard

I hate the old wardrobe that my parents have kept in the room I have revamped - but it is good storage and I can't complain when it isn't actually my house :-/

So I have turned it into my new noticeboard and it is now bearable! I have notes on there, cards i have received/collected, colours, fabrics and patterns I like and seasonal autumnal inspiration. Just need to change the handles and it will look a treat!

Get ready to waste some serious time with this bad boy!

tester 2 by nattybumbum featuring Paul & Joe Sister dresses

This site is amazing! You can plan your dream outfits, dream rooms, inspirations or dream make up. Spend hours browsing items by colour, brand, designer, shop whatever you like and create utterly gorgeous mood boards of all your favourite things as if money were no object. I love it's kinda fun when your in the mood, it's free and soo easy to use!

Above I just created a simple me outfit for a nice day at work with a lovely lunch out and a drink or two after :-)

Go on create your perfect work outfit, party outfit, date outfit, power outfit, dreamy day outfit? OOOOh the possibilities are endless! You can eve upload your own images - so you can put your actual clothes in there (well if you have the time and put in the effort)

Hello Lil Craft Shop!

So the other day I went for a wonder in a different part of town and I don't know how I have never been this way before! A haberdashery, yarn supplies and a discount craft shop within a minutes walk of each other. I didn't know what to do with myself - there was just sooo much in that lil shop, loads of stamps, scrapbooking supplies, cards, envelopes, pens galore. It took me a while to catch my breath and when I finally came round I remembered I was still poor and had a stupid, fat car parking ticket to pay. But I did treat myself to these gorgeous knives :-) Ha I will be back!

Yay I finished!

Since I started kniting a few months back - I have never actually finished anything. I have knit 50 rows, than ripped it out then changed my stitches and ripped it out but welcome to the world my new Mustard scarf! An actual finished creation!

It is very chunky and very long which I love because it will keep me nice and snug. It will also have to compensate for the fact that I may have to throw away my mustard coat this year :-(

Maybe one of the reasons I never actually finished a garment was because I couldn't cast off but mum taught me that this evening yipeee! (Wasn't that hard I will actually have to finish more stuff)

As soon as I started I knitting this scarf every auntie, family friend or passing relative who has been to my house has tried to pick up the knitting and do a few rows whilst I was out of the room - I don't know why they didn't realise their love for knitting earlier and teach me the craft! I love seeing my scarf finished means I can actually move onto something else! Whoop whoop!

Haven't quite mastered the single ladies dance but....

I think this will be a definite warm up exercise. I have been dancing around to this on repeat all today - Love it!

Oooo a Granny Square and A Cup Of Tea Please

OOOOooo I got a lil parcel the other day - they were soo pretty and such a bargain I couldn't resist. I can't stop looking at them, I can't actually crochet yet but I am booked on a course and I can't wait to make some granny squares.

Calorific Crayons :-)

Today I spent the day cleaning up - Finnally I emptied the bags of crafty stuff that I brought back from NY. There were lots of half finished and monkeys and tonnes of threads and paints, buttons you name it!

Obviously I needed snacks - so I finished off the chocolate crayons my friend got me for my birthday yum yum...

I LOVE my new Present - Thank you Whitey!

Ohh thank you soo much Lindsey - They have pride and place in my new room. Soo pretty.
Sending you a virtual hug!


P.S I even loved the wrapping paper...

New Blog Love - Brooklyn Bride - Modern Wedding Blog

I hate to be one of those girly girls forever planning her wedding but a good wedding is something special. You just HAVE to admire a good thought out affair, that extra effort that makes a special day your special day with personal touches and lots of creativity.

Once Wed gave me my fix of original weddings but I have just stumbled upon this lovely little blog which I will ponder for hours on end with love in my eyes...

Check out a few pics taken from their recent posts....

Someone has to marry me one day right?

Periods are getting soo pretty

I know it is so sad but I love these Barcelona sanitary towel packets - they are just so funky and cute I don't want to use them. I mean I would if I lived in Barcelona and these were my regular packaging but errr I don't so they are not.

Anyway I went shopping yesterday and how pretty are these ones - all boxed up and fancy and they open up like a little set of drawers! I couldn't resist them and the tampon boxes were even prettier! Still not making me love periods though! LOL

National Cupcake Week

This week was national cupcake so I tried to do myself proud (like I really needed any excuse to eat cake.)

I went sampled two cupcakes in the hope that I would find my favourite cupcake supplier in Manncy town.

First up I went to Sweet Tooth Cupcakery....

I think I have mentioned it before - This place is soo pretty! The staff are really friendly and the cupcakes are displayed gorgeously and named after celebs. The picture above is of my "Doris Day" Cupcake. A simple vanilla cupcake with lemon frosting.The Bestie had a" Johnny Cash" which is a a chocolate sponge and oreo cookie frosting. It also had a large Oreo cookie at the base which was a nice touch.

Unfortunately our cakes were a little dry - It won't stop me going back but I wish they could have been a little more lighter and moist. The frosting left my friend feeling a little sickly too.

So determined to have a truly perfect cupcake experience I moved on to Selfridges. A few weeks ago Bestie turned up at my door with the most gorgeous, melt in your mouth creations. They are made by Fiona Cairns for Selfridges. You can buy them individually or boxed like the pic below..

The pic of the Fiona ones above aren't mine - I squashed my one before I could capture it on Camera. Anyway my cupcake was STALE - I couldn't even eat it. I had been dreaming of it as it had been soo delicious before but this time it wasn't meant to be :-(

I guess I will just have to try again ho hum :-)

I'm ready to show you my drawers......

So I had a free weekend last weekend and I decided I would tackle the draws that I stripped a few weeks back.

This is them before........
I picked them up from a flea market at a bargain price! This is them after the transformation...

I love them and I was searching for some glass knobs/draw pulls for them since I picked up the wallpaper (which again was a bargain). I showed my aunt the kind of thing I was looking for as she had seen my half finished draws camped out in the conservatory. I was sooo happy the other week when she very kindly surprised me with the exact ones I had shown her!!!!! I think they look lovely....

Love Me If You Dare...

So this morning I got up super early and had the random urge to watch the DVD I rented - "Love me if you dare." It didn't change my life but it was worth a watch and had me singing "La Vie en Rose" all day.

It is about a couple of best friends who live their lives through dares, they get older, the dares get bigger and their feelings for each other get stronger- but with age and love and other people beyond their intimate world there comes complications and the lines between the games and their feelings blur.....

The colours and images were very pretty and strong- quite liked the editing, the mix of textures and graphics and actually quite liked the story- all though I got a teeny bit confused at the end I mean I actually do not know which was the true ending?

If your in the mood for something that's visually interesting but not soo much so that it is garish or obviously try hard.. you could try this little love story with a bit of a twist.

I'm over the soda stream! I'm going to make my own lovely drinks and stick on these lovely labels!

Don't you want to drink all of these! They look so yummy and pretty... some lucky wedding guests got to enjoy lovely colourful drinks at a special made soda bar at a wedding - sounds great and what's more looks like they made floats too. Reading about it inspired this lady to make her own labels and post them for the world to share on her blog. It reminds me of my lustful affair with the Soda stream. No I didn't get one... I just asked for it maybe 3 Christmases in a row, looked at dreamily in the supermarket, marked it in the Argos and constantly left it for my mum to see and dropped hints that I wanted it in irrelevant conversations - ho hum

Mum still never brought it me.. something about rotting teeth and weight gain (Mum that was going to happen anyway lol)
Anyway now I make a mean homemade lemonade and forget the good old jug I'm bottling it next time.

So I dissapeared for a week or 2...

But in that time I aged and I also got a job yay me! - The job does mean I will be stuck in the same place for a while but It was a great birthday present and I am actually really looking forward to starting at the new place and working with lots of lovely new people. I hope this is a step in the right direction!

For my birthday I ate lots of yummy things ( yep sounds like every other day) I lounged about lots
(yep still sounds the same) and got lots of pretty cards, gifts and money (yay something special!)

I will have to spend my money on some new clothes but nothing has inspired me as yet...
One of my favourite gifts was the necklace that my friend brought for me and had it inscribed with " for my best friend forever" Very sweet!

I don't know if this is actually a crime but....

I do feel a bit ashamed saying but I had this strange realisation the other day that ...... I don't think I have ever read a Jane Austen cover to cover or seen the famous BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. :-/

I do own many Jane Austen novels but they have sat pretty for a while and my visiting Aunt recently reminded me they were there in their big, chunky, hard back glory. She was quite enjoying reading them and her enthusiasm made me think about whether I had actually read them myself. I then watched the film " Becoming Jane" a few days later (in which Anne Hathaway did a great English accent ) and it felt like a lil sign from the fiesty lady. So whilst meandering around Blockbuster today I picked up a copy of Jane's fine work on DVD, so soon whether by reading or viewing I will have a bit more Jane in my life.

I still haven't read my book club book yet so where I will find the time to read a Jane Austen novel in between my other reads I don't know? Hmmm maybe I will have to learn to watch less poop on tv and read more .... but i'm sure Corrie is a classic too? lol

P.S: Also the other day I found out we had this new channel Zone Romantica (sounds like porn but it isn't) It is a channel for the lover of all dramatic, romantic and sometimes cheesey programmes. It's full of sad stories, Ally Mcbeal repeats, back to back Party of Five episodes and the occassional soppy 80's or true life Movie. Did my life just get sadder - don't answer I know the answer already!