Dotcomgiftshop Christmas Pretties Review....

I love to shop, we all know that, and one my favourite online places to browse/shop for many wonderful and inspiring gift ideas is the home of dotcomgiftshop.com I adore their sweet pretties, many of which have a cute, vintage, lovable appeal and are right up my street. So, when the online store asked me to review some of their items, of course I wanted to offer my services.

So, the first item to review was a Yuletide Images Set Of 6 Paper Boxes

These really are superb, and excellent value for money, at only £2.95 ( they were originally £5.95) for all that the set comprises. A set of 6 brown cardboard paper boxes, which I have to say are excellent quality, all 6 a different useable size, and these boxes come with ribbon, 6 brown paper tags and many, many yuletide decoupage images to play with, approximately 50. I think these boxes have so many uses, one of which  is that they can be decorated with the enclosed yuletide decoupage images, ribbon and tags, a present could be popped inside one of the boxes and then can be presented as a Christmas gift. I shall be doing this with one or two of the boxes. I shall also be using the yuletide images as little labels, to pop inside Christmas cards, to decorate the table on Christmas morning, and for many other decorating ideas. The bigger boxes I may keep some of my ribbons and things in, and put on a pretty bookshelf for display. So many uses so many ideas. I shall certainly be popping to dotcomgiftshop for another pack, which again is superb value at only £2.95.

Then it was onto the Set Of 12 3D Christmas Postage Stamp Stickers

 A pack of 12 traditional Christmas 3d stickers that are just perfect for prettying up ones presents and cards at Christmas. These really are the sweetest images, in pretty colours which come presented on a very vintage Christmas style backing and perfect if you are, like me, handmaking your own Christmas cards. I also love that they have a zig zag edge effect like a stamp, ( which isn't so clear in the photograph ) and is a very appealing aspect. A charming and a lovely 'get you in the mood for Christmas' decoration idea that would add that extra touch to all your Christmas gifts and cards.

And last but not least I got to have a little play with this delightful Set Of 6 Vintage Christmas Ribbons

These are the cutest vintage style Christmas ribbons and perfect for all manner of Christmas decorating  ideas. Each ribbon measures approximately 150cm long and there are 6 wonderful designs in the pack, each with a charming vintage feel to it. Being someone who loves to handmake home accessories, I shall certainly be using these ribbons to embellish my Christmas hearts, garlands, stars, and many other handmade Christmas items. I shall also be using them to tie my children's Christmas sacks, there are so many ideas and wonderful ways in which these delightful ribbons could be used. A charming Christmas decorating idea.

So if you have never visited dotcomgiftshop.com before or haven't visited for a while, I would recommend you pop over, you shall be greeted with some wonderful gift ideas for all members of the family, and after all, don't we all love to shop, especially in the comfort of our own homes :0)

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Here Comes The Bride....

It is coming up to my 11th wedding anniversary, an easy date for me to remember as is the day after Miss. Poppins' birthday and also the day of my lovely sister in laws birthday. I always remember the lovely lady in question getting her special birthday mention in the wedding speeches and we all sang happy birthday. Our wedding was on such a lovely autumnal day back in November, 1999. I am a sentimental gal and always like to reminisce on our wedding and the memories that I have of our special day. My wedding dress hangs in one of my mum's bedrooms, looking pretty and as we are having a little holiday here, think it is time for a little try on, don't you.

It is actually quite a simple dress, I knew I wanted lots and lots of tulle...

 I really wanted the Cinderella thing with a big hoop and skirt though being quite petite I wanted the top half to be quite simple.

I thought the trellis design was very sweet. It had to be adjusted and with some of the left over trellis material I asked for three little rosebuds to be sewn on the back....this is me actually wearing it nearly 11 years to the day, yay it still fits ;0)

I also loved the v shaped waist, and I felt like a princess in it.

Being a girl who likes to show a little flesh, ( even on my wedding day ) I adored the back of the dress and the fact that although not an overtly revealing dress in anyway, my back was exposed, I love, love, love the back of my wedding dress.

Also kept at my mums are the beautiful, delicate iced flowers we had for our three tiered wedding cake. My mum keeps them in her special cabinet in the front room, and even after nearly 11 years are as stunning as they were on our wedding day. Yes, a little imperfection here and there, but so pretty to look at. 

I am so glad we had a colour theme of golds, ivories and a little green here and there in the greenery for our wedding. Wonderful classic, undating colours, and I can look at my wedding photographs and truly, for me, they look as though they could have been taken yesterday. I would say a small fortune was spent on the photography, but creating special, wonderful memories was very important to me, and what wonderful memories we have. The photography in my opinion is beautiful and was worth every penny, and I shall be forever grateful. Such lovely natural photography....

Our very lovely and special car....

Takes the song 'You lift me up' to a new level....

It wasn't only my new husband giving me sloppy kisses....

A very much loved member of the family, and still with us :0)

So, nearly 11 years later, am I as happy as I was on that beautiful day?

Well, I am older, a little more tired, in need of a boob job ( though shall never have one ). We went on to have three very special babies. Our first, Miss. Poppins, who was born at term, perfectly well and healthy. Then came our beautiful baby Joshua, who being so premature God decided was so special he took him into his care. The following year we had our miracle baby, Master P. Our very special 29 weeker, born so very small at 3lbs 1 oz, though thrived and is a prefectly healthy happy 4 year old.

Yes we have had stress, sometimes I think more than our fair share. Yes I have had times when I have thought  maybe my marriage isn't perfect, ( whose is )  But I am a romantic, I can't help it, a dreamer, a passionate person who loves to love and feel loved. So looking deep into my soul, yes I am as happy, maybe more. We have both changed, of course, and having a family brings new challenges and stresses, but I love my husband all the more having gone through these stresses, I have got to know him more over our nearly 11 years of marriage, he is, as I often call him, my rock.

So, plod on we do, and we shall spend our anniversary thinking of all the good times, the happy memories we have made together, and maybe, just maybe we may have a night out, just the two of us.

Do you have the perfect marriage, please tell me they don't exist :0)

Right, off to see what I should be buying my dear husband, 11 years, hmmmm probably coal or something useful like that ;0)

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Close The Door, Go Explore....

Sometimes it is nice to remember there is a real world out there, away from the www, life is sometimes too short to be staring at a computer screen and it is then when I want to get out, feel the sun/cold upon my face see real people, see a little of real life. Here is some of my Real life this last week in one or two photographs.... 

Big Ben looked lovely with the sun shining on it's cheery face....

I would love my front door painted this pretty colour....

How lucky I was to be able to share my country walk with one of these magnificent creatures....

It made my heart sing to hear the laughter of my children at the puppet show....

Fairground rides with beeping horns to be enjoyed by little boys, was fun to watch....

Visiting swish fashion houses, making me think, I would like to work here....

Upside down aeroplanes indoors, not a sight I get to see everyday.... 

So, although the www has it's place, for me, it is good for the soul to spend time in the real world.

Go on, close the door, just take yourself, your loved ones, and go explore....

Stuck For Idea's On A Present....

With my daughters birthday coming up on bonfire night, I have to start thinking about what to get her as a little present, and I have to say, I am really stuck. Yes I have asked her what she would like and her response is, I would like....a surprise. Sheesh no help there then. So I popped online at Tesco for some inspiration on children's gifts  Luckily there is a half price sale on many of their toys and I found one or too that may be suitable. Miss Poppins, even at 8, is still a fan of disney princess  and barbie dolls but if she is happy then I am, I think I played with dolls until....;0)

 She doesn't own a mobile telephone, a DS wotsit, or any other gadgetry things and doesn't really show much interest in them anyway. She loves to draw, paint, create, write ( she is a brilliant, poetic writer, being a fluent reader when she was 5, her love of words is astonishing ) even at this tender age I do think writing is something that may develop and who knows I could have an aspiring author on my hands. One gift that I truly think would be perfect for her and I had I not be sent it by the team over at  The Great Toy Guide for her and I to review, I would certainly would have had it on my birthday list for her.

It truly is a wonderful crafty item for any creative child, and soooooooooooo pretty to look at too. Please feel free to keep a look out on the Great Toy Guide for our review, which shall be posted shortly.
So, off to search for some more inspirations I can see me at this rate leaving it all very last minute but if you have any suggestions on what present an 8 nearly 9 year old  could receive that would make her eyes shine and her face light up. A bit like shen her little brother got his tardis, boy, he could barely take it in, that he had his very own tardis to play with, he was ecstatic. And I so would love to see her face light up with joy the same way when she unwraps her gift from us.

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We Have A Winner....

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment on the giveaway post, I wish you all could have won. Congratulations to the lovely Sheila over at Homemaking Heaven A really pretty homely blog. Sheila has lots to offer on homemaking and much much more. Please do say hello if you get a spare minute. Well done Sheila! Enjoy your Dorset Cereals bars.

I find it hard to do a post without a pretty photograph so thought I would share imo a pretty one of a P.E Drawstring bag I made for a little girl. I think it is pretty and girly, exactly what she wanted. Hope you think it is pretty too. I had to do a little crafty technical research on this one, thank you for helping me out, you know who you are :0)

I like experimenting with different colour labels on my pretties, as some seem to co ordinate much better. I have quite a rainbow of colours of labels to play with and I thought my pink ones suited this bag perfectly, and popped one on the reverse.   

I am in the middle of making some more personalised ones including some boy ones. I love that they are so personal to their owner with having their special name on. Hmmmm must get round to making my own children one.

Hope you all had a nice weekend, and congratulations again to Sheila.

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Dorset Cereals Yummy Giveaway....

I was kindly sent some very yummy Dorset Cereals Bars from the chaps and chapesses at Dorset Cereals to taste test and I have to say are thoroughly deliciouso. They come in a pack of five and there are three tasty recipes to choose from, Almond, brazil & hazelnut, Blackcurrant, cherry and raspberry, and Apple and raisin. Now of course they are a very suitable little lunch time snack, though it is hard to resist having one, as I do, for breakfast, one for a mid morning snack, then lunch too....

They are tasty, suitable for vegetarians, contain a decent amount of fibre and protein, and, very importantly to me, my children love them too, even the four year old, and they have popped off to school today with one in their lunch bags.

Talking of lunch bags, I was also sent one of their soon to be released lunch bags, which is super stylish in my opinion, and I would be more than happy to have it gracing my arm whilst walking in the park with my lunch in it, so much more classy than a squished up carrier bag ;0) As I say, the lunch bags haven't even yet been released so felt very privileged to get my little mitts on one. Are you good at taking time out for a decent lunch break? Working from home, handmaking pretties, I do find it a challenge to give myself proper lunch breaks, and is always as and when, though having read Dorset Cereals Reclaim Your Lunch Break Tips am going to make more of an effort to be more organised and take the time out I deserve.

So, on to which is my favourite recipe.Well, the Blackcurant, cherry & raspberry were looking like the favourite but has been over taken by the Almond, brazil & hazelnut bar. Ohoooo can't wait to have bar No2 for the day ;0) Hmmmmm, I think it is very teasing of me to tell you all about these tasty treats and have you drooling, so I asked very nicely to Dorset Cereals if I could do a giveaway to give one of you the opportunity of wining some of the lovely bars too, not only that, but I cheekily asked if they could pop in one of the trendy and very pretty lunch bags, and being the generous people they are, they said yes :0) So if you would like to go in the hat, please feel free to leave a comment on this post. Really you should, they make a lovely gift too, the packaging is so sweet and is unbleached, and made from 100% recycled fibre. Being a passionate person, I only endorse products on my blog that I am passionate about, or think you may be be passionate about too, and these certainly get the thumbs up from me.

A winner shall be picked from the hat on Sunday evening ( after x factor ) and then I shall send the winners details onto Dorset Cereals and they shall post your winning parcel onto you.

Good luck if you enter----------> off to get another one, no wonder I have lots of these around the house ;0)

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More Tea Vicar....

I would be proud to serve my vicar his tea from this delightful tea set, actually could be a coffee set as the cups really are quite small, and I couldn't resist it when I spied it in a charity shop, and at £2.99 for six cups and saucers I thought a beautiful bargain....

What we have here is in my opinion a stunning J&G Meakin set in their simplistic yet beautiful Sunflower Sol design. It is a pattern that was produced with no embellishments due to war time restrictions in Britain at the time. It really is a very dainty set.

I think the set shall look pretty on the painted dresser....

Who says now the nights are drawing in, the days are colder, we have to dig out our autumn colours, I like spring colours all year round and it certainly cheers me up to see pretty colours around my home.

It is in excellent condition, and how can one not smile when ones eyes are drawn to the cheery sun, peering up at them on the derriere of each saucer :0)

Have you found any vintage loveliness on your travels....

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Pretties....

I thought you may like to see some pretties :0)

From the car booty....

Second hand shops....

Tesco.... I loved these star mugs and a bargain at 2 for £3.50

Hmmmm looking at how many I have here one may think I don't need anymore crush mugs. Well a girl like me can never have enough mugs....

I adore adore adore these kissing birds....

Somewhere pretty to keep my keys....

I can't wait to set the table with the pretty pink polka dot cutlery....

And place our glasses on these Parisian coasters....remind me of my honeymoon in Paris

The children can have their little drinks out of these cute little Ikea plastic mini glasses and tumblers....

I can't wait to pop my salt and pepper out of these little numbers....

Place all my lovingly baked cupcakes on this.... Thank you for the pretty cake stand mum :0)

Actually you could help me here, if any of you have bought anything similar to this pretty cardboard cake stand, I would so love to know how to put it up. I mean the instructions are easy enough....

I thought....I have been doing my best to slot all inplace, but alas am getting nowhere.

I had to have this sign to go in my our shabby chic influenced bedroom when it gets decorated....

How about handmade pretties, here is some of what I have been making....

I really enjoyed making this custom bag for a customer, who wanted a two way design bag with the initals of her twin babies on either side of the bag.

Her baby girls side....

Her baby boys side....

I love the pink and blue gingham mix lining too.

I have taken part in a swap with this lovely lady, and couldn't wait to use some of the crocheted flowers she sent me.

Using some of my favorite fabrics for this patchwork cushion....

Gotta have some retro cowboys for the boys....

Pretty necklace....

Funky initialed boy's cushion....

Americana personalised cushion....

And a sweet polka dot tote bag....

So, there you are, hope you enjoyed my *pretty* post :0)

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