Valentines Day

As we say goodbye to January, Valentines Day is just around the corner, so we have made today's 50% FRIDAY the perfect collection of love themed ideas.

We have postcards,

  notebooks,

  mugs,

  tape,

  magnets, 

 wrapping paper and 

 cards - all with 50% off. 

And to be even nicer, we are extending this weeks 50% FRIDAY until midnight on Monday. 

 Have a lovely weekend.

The Great Interior Design Challenge

I have been loving the new Interiors programme on BBC2. For the past week and a half I have booked my place on the sofa at 7pm (slightly early for me) to watch The Great Interior Design Challenge. A few of my Twitter friends have been on the show so it's been lovely to watch. I would love to do the challenge of designing and styling a room but would hate to be on the telly and I'm not sure how good I would be doing it for someone else!

What it has meant, is that I have itchy fingers to take on my own little project!

When we got the keys to our current house 6 years ago in February, we had to do a lot of work to get the house to the state we were happy with. Here are just a few 'Before and After' shots.

 I would love to take on a new project but it will be down to the inevitable time and money but who knows, maybe it will happen this year, maybe next but there is definitely another design project in me yet.

It's time!

If you follow the blog, you will already know that 2 years ago I lost three stone. Last year slowly but surely a stone crept back on despite all good intentions. I decided this year not to make a New Year's Resolution to diet or even put myself under any pressure at the start on the year as I've learnt from experience, if you're not in the right 'head space', you won't get anywhere.

Well today has felt the right time to begin my 'Move More, Eat Better' campaign. I've moved into my new unit, orders are beginning to slow down and I have a little more 'me' time.

6 months on Friday we go on our Summer Holiday. That's 6 months to sensibly do something about the extra couple of stone I am carrying. I won't diet, just aim to eat better - healthier choices, smaller portion sizes, a 'taste' of the good stuff and less carbs and sugar.

I have started up my walks around the park, weather permitting and will endeavour to do so daily.

I'm 43 and don't want to have aches and pains. I want to go into a shop and buy something I like rather than something that fits! So it's time to focus now on me - wish me luck (again)!

It's raining....

....it's pouring. 

I don't know about you but I've had enough of the rain now. I want clear, crisp, frosty mornings with blue skies and winter sunshine. This rain is never ending.

(source)

I live in the county of Somerset and we have been hit pretty badly by flooding across the levels. Some parts of the county have been cut off since Christmas and the forecast just seems to promise more rain. 

(source)

Luckily where we live, we have not had to deal with any flooding but it feels like it's rained continuously all January. Only one more week of this miserable month left, February always seems to hold a little promise of better things to come.

Phew...... I'm in!

I've done it - moved out of my old premises and ......

........into my new, with 7 days to spare!

I'm pretty proud of myself and what I've achieved in 23 days. Other than 2 hours of help from the family, I have moved and sorted everything all on my own.

The space is a little smaller (and cheaper) but it really works - my making up, picking and packing area is just right and I have everything easily to hand.

The cards run all along one wall, easy to get to and the spotty bags are easy to hand too.

I then have an area for notebooks, tape etc, etc

There is still a little bit of sorting to do but I'm just relieved that I'm in, everything (well, very nearly everything) has a space to call home and I did it a week early and whilst picking and packing 100's of SALE orders.

All I have to do now is make up more stock, as a lot of the shelves are nearly empty and do a stock take and keep on top of orders and...... not too much to do then. 

It's getting serious!

This week Sophie has to make a big decision - it's time to choose her GCSE subjects.

We went to an Option Evening last week and came away with quite a few questions which we hope to answer tomorrow at Parent's Evening. The trouble is, she has no idea what she wants to do and needs to keep as many pathways open to her at A'Level and then University.

 I was lucky, when I was her age I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I did my work experience in a school, volunteered after my O'Levels and A'Levels and went to a Specialised College/University to study. I studied an Art Degree rather than a pure Teaching Degree so I kept my options open in the future.

The school is excellent so I'm sure she will get there in the end, just feels quite scary trying to get it right.

Tulips always make things better, whatever decisions need to be made.

I'm sure by tomorrow evening we will be sorted.

Winter sunshine

What a treat to wake up to this morning - birds singing, blue skies and sunshine.

It really does lift your spirits.

We've made the most of it and just got back from a walk around the park.

It's so beautiful out there today.

The first clumps of snowdrops I've seen this year.

And now late afternoon, the sun tracks round to the front of the house and bathes it in sunlight.

Bulbs are starting to push through out the back too. The garden needs a jolly good tidy up so if the weather permits, that's a job for February half term.

Flower power!

Today my Mum and Dad surprised me with a visit - they live in Cornwall and were passing on route to a Birthday celebration, so popped in to say 'hello' and presented me with these beautiful Cornish daffodils too. Not only was it lovely to see them but also the welcome cheer, daffodils bring.

I've been filling my house with flowers - these hyacinths I treated myself to at New Year have paid me back plenty in their blooms and scent. 

And this £5 bunch of tulips has filled 2 vases and added welcome colour during a grey and miserable January.

So my strategy to get through Winter, is fill my house with flowers - colour and scent. A welcome reminder that Spring isn't too far round the corner.

Mid January - already!

Seriously, how did it get to mid January already?

I really do not know where the time is going. I am still snowed under with orders and am desperately trying to move premises too. I reckon I'm nearly 80% of the way there now. I'm pretty proud of what I've achieved on my own and how hard I've worked. I'm itching to get back to my paper and have a little creative/studio time but the way things are going, it's looking like I won't get chance until February!

The weather is pretty miserable so I must confess I haven't minded being indoors . 

I treated myself to some gorgeous tulips - a little bit of 'Spring'

I really do hate the rain as you know but I witnessed  this incredible bright, double rainbow this evening - the photo doesn't really do it justice, Sophie took it whilst I was driving home. It was complete and seemed to follow us all the way home for a good 10 minutes. I wished I'd stopped the car but it was pouring with rain too.

I've been shattered by the time I get home, so am enjoying this new 'toy' which we bought with some of our Christmas money. It's so nice to just listen to some music for the hour when I get in, coffee in hand whilst I look through the days emails. The children are doing their homework, Jeff's still at work and I grab a few quiet moments before I start getting tea ready - it's the little things. 

One Week Left!

A little reminder there is just one week left to grab yourself a bargain in our sale.

Ends midnight Monday 20th January

There are plenty of great offers

50% OFF

Advent Calendars

Greetings cards

Christmas Cards

Tape

Gift tags

Magnets

Notebooks

Place Settings

Owl Posters 

Postcards

Stickers

Christmas Wrap

40% OFF

Card Packs

Gift Packs

Party Packs

30% OFF

Mugs

Wrapping Paper

 Wooden Boats

25% OFF

Invitations

Thank Yous

Paper Pads

Party Notebook Packs

20% OFF

Christmas Wrap Kit

Bundle of Bags

Large Wooden Hearts

Large Wooden Stars