Tesco Sony Ericsson Mobile Phone Giveaway....

I am reminded in so many ways at how quickly Miss. Poppins is growing up and with her 10th birthday just around the corner, I am constantly amazed at how time has flown since that day on November 5th, 2001, when my little bundle of loveliness came into the world weighing a tiny 5lbs 11ozs. One thing she desperately  wanted to have for her birthday was her ears pierced. I had always had in my mind, she would not be having any ears pierced until she was at least 16. Too harsh? Well we shall wait and see if I give in on that one. When it comes to gadgets, one item that we have briefly talked about her having for her birthday is a mobile phone. I hold my hands up here, I am  possibly  an over protective parent ( who isn't these days ) so her owning one would be very much so I could call her, and her me. Although she is yet to venture too far from the front or back garden on her own, and is at the age where I  know exactly where she is at all times, there may be a time in the distant future ( hopefully when she is about 40 ) where I don't know exactly where she is at all times. When it comes to costs, I think I would opt for a pretty little pay as you go for her as I get very confused about contract deals etc. With all these minutes and texts, would she ( us ) also possibly be faced with extra costs if she went over her limit, which, in these times can really pinch on the ( parent's ) wallet.

So when Tesco Mobile got in contact and introduced me to their newly launched Capped Mobile Phone Tariffs  I was eager to learn more. Basically as the parent of a child/teen with a mobile you can keep the bills under control by....

* Fixing the tariff so you can only use the inclusive minutes, texts and data.
* Therefore one's monthly bill would never be more than the cost of the monthly tariff.
* If you run out during the month, you can just top-up your account using a pay as you go top-up.
* Tesco mobile are the only network to offer this scheme across all handsets, and all price plans.

I have to let you into a little secret here, before Tesco contacted me to introduce me to their new tariffs, and also to offer a fantastic giveaway, I had already known a little about their newly launched capped tariffs. This was all due to this Tesco Mobile Capped Contracts television advert I had watched like a million times. And the reason I watched it so many times was I just loved to see again and again a lovely friend of mine's daughter who is in it. She looks just so cool and trendy, speaks with such a lovely clear and articulate voice and I just love her little giggle at the end when she speaks.

So, to celebrate Tesco Mobile's capped tariff launch, they have very generously offered a fantastic sim free Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Phone with an rrp of around £350 for me to offer as a giveaway on here and which I have to say looks especially FAN-DABY-DOSY!! A wonderful phone, especially for the gamer in you, and with so many features, it looks fabulous too....

As you may know I am a keen bargain hunter and with all this talk of money saving, to be in with the opportunity of winning this magnificent phone, I would like to know what is the best money saving tip, big or small that you have learn't down the years from your own family, something that you shall indeed pass down to your own children one day. I often find the best money saving tips come from years gone by, what our grandparents and great grandparents did to save on those hard earned pennies. I would really love you to share any of your money saving tips with me, and in a weeks time I shall ask the man of the house ( to make things all fair and equal ) to have a read of them and choose the most original/funniest etc to be the winner. I shall contact you for an address, forward onto Tesco Mobile and they shall then send you out your phone. It would indeed make a fantastic Christmas present too, if you could bare to part with it.

Closing Date is Friday 4th November

Terms & conditions: Open to UK residents only. There is no cash alternative, and only one entry per person.

Good Luck....

Well done to Helen whose old fashioned, seasonal, money saving tips, including not writing recipients names on envelopes, and carefully unwrapping presents at Christmas to re-use wrapping paper  inspired my husband so much. So, well done Helen, and hope you enjoy your new mobile phone. 

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Disclosure: In way of thanks for highlighting tesco mobile's new capped tariff I received a Tesco voucher for publishing this post. 

My New Pink Shoes....

Can anyone tell me why, when a woman, no matter how many pairs of shoes she has tucked away in wardrobes and cupboards, she NEVER has enough?? When I saw these pretty pink shoes with a little heel, did I think of all those I have at home already? No, of course I didn't. However as a keen shopper for bargains, at a sale price of £5.00 I thought these a rather inexpensive treat....Are you like me, a shoe-a-holic?

I almost skipped out of the shop wearing them....

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I Am In Love With My Bicycle....

I thought I would share ( as I know many of you are vintage lovers like me ) my original 1949 gorgeous vintage Rudge Whitworth bicycle. I love it! I adore it!

I have ridden it and she really does ride like a dream, all I need now is a little puppy for the original basket....

I love the *hand built* hand icon on the crank, a symbol of Rudge's pride in craftmanship....

Oh and the basket, did I tell you I love it....

Reeeeeeally love it....

Think of all the fruit and vegetables  pretties I can get in there. Again the classic R symbol for authenticity....

She really does suit me and I think we shall become great friends, as someone who hasn't ( embarrassed icon ) rode a bike regularly for many, many years I know she is going to bring me much joy, going out on her....

The saddle is so comfy, and can't wait to make a pretty removable cover for it....

There are 3 working gears, which happily I can cope with....

I don't know as yet whether I should touch the paintwork up here and there, or leave her well alone. It really is a beauty and in fine fettle. The tyres may need replacing soonish, but shall hopefully look after her well and  not take her on too much of a bumpy ride! I do feel a little like this lady when I am riding her, and feel like I have to get dressed up for the occasion....

A truly lovely bicycle, that I feel very proud to own....

 
I hope you like it as much as I do....

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Tilda Book Review & A Pretty Make....

Not long ago, I was sent the new book from Tonne Finnanger called Tilda's Studio to review, I have had a little play, and here is what I thought if it....

The latest book in the Tilda range, has over 50 design projects including cushions, accessories, home décor, jewellery and bags. There are cute characters such as giraffes, elephants, and of course the infamous Tilda angels to create. The colours are what appealed to me most in this book, ranging from pretty shades of pink and red, right through to splashes of teal green and purple. Very pretty! There is a lovely chapter inspired by Tonne's Grandma's china and the combination of new and old, in the chapter you shall find little cupcake angels and ideas for table arrangements.... 

It of course has to be said Tonne's designs are truly beautiful, inspiring and pretty to look at. I have many of the Tilda Books, and adore the Tilda fabrics and would probably go out and purchase her next book should there be one out in the future....BUT and it is quite a big but for me, I do find those paragraph written instructions on the more complex designs a little difficult to follow/understand when it comes to making up the projects. Of course it could be me, and I am just a numpty, though I am well used to following tutorials for making hand crafted items and there are definitely tutorials that are easier for me to understand and there are those that are not. As someone who enjoys making up her own handmade ideas, I have scrapbooks full of my own VERY simply written projects and I think as a reader of craft books, without wanting to patronise the advanced sewer, the simpler the better is always the way to go. Clearly written pointer step by step instructions along with photographs to accompany the project are always a winner in my eyes. Of course there shall be many who find the Tilda instructions a doddle, and perhaps I am being picky, but for me this is a coffee table book, it looks pretty, has wonderfully inspiring photographs ( if in my opinion a little dark, me being picky again perhaps ) and I think a super book to dip in and out of for craft inspiration. I like to take a bit of that project and little of that and kind of make something my own. I love the bird cage project and shall certainly be having a go at that when time allows....         

And the hats are so cute, Miss. Poppins would love one of these....

As for me, I have fallen in love with this pretty belt, very me....

Of course I had to have a go at a little something and thought I would make my version of a Tilda head band for Miss. Poppins. I love making flowers and to be honest they are quite easy to do, a basic running stitch on a length of folded fabric and then gathered. I really like the leaf detail too....  

I covered one of Miss Poppins many headbands she already has in a pretty fabric and then attached the floral rose to it and voila! I have left it on her bed to find and I love more than anything making little handmade treats for her and hope she likes it....

So for me, a very, very pretty book with lots of inspiration and at a fantastic price, so you do get a lot of inspiration for your money. If you have this book I would love to know what you think of it. At the end of the day I really can't resist a pretty book, and this is certainly one of them!

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Lovely Friends, Lovely Finds....

Oh I do love sweet little items from the olden days, I really do. I don't know what it is but all the new stuff ( and some of it very pretty ) just doesn't move me as much. I think it is the thought that an item has been well loved, used, and perhaps has a story behind it. When a lovely friend ( whose pretty garden you can see on this post ) of mine said she had one or two bits for me, I got a little excited as my friend and I have quite similar tastes....

So sweet were these little foreign vintage rose placemats, so much smaller than the ones we use today, but oh so cute....

Seeing the old money mark, they only cost 12 1/2 p....

They are double sided and really light up the dinner table with their floral design, and have a sort of 3d effect so really pop out at you....

Lovely gold edges make these just lovely....

Ohooo there was more in the little bag, why thank you friend. A really sweet basket weave posy vase in the prettiest of colours....

With a makers mark *H O England* that I really can't find anything about, so makes it for me a very interesting piece. I can't wait to get some pretty flowers in there. Talking of pretty I think this Dunmoy Linen tablecloth she also gave me is just the prettiest of colours....

The colours remind of Love Hearts ....

And the most adorable matching linen napkins....

I just love them, and have to say I am not sure I could bear to wipe my mucky chops on those pretty things. My friend couldn't resist popping one of these in the bag too, I adore the sunshiny packaging, so cheery....

So, what a lovely kind friend I have and who just knows what pretty delights shall bring a smile to my face, I just love, love to be taken back to days gone by....

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Crying....

Something I experienced the other day made me want to write this post and see if I could get anyone elses thoughts on the subject. I was waiting at a busy train station sitting down on the platform bench, and whilst getting myself settled, finding tickets etc, I heard this sobbing, loud, really loud sobbing. I looked around for a baby, or young child and then it dawned on me. The young and very attractive lady sitting next to me was crying her eyes out. Blowing her nose, the works, she was on her own, bags next to her, and to be honest I just didn't know what to do....Well, actually I knew what to do, I held out my hand, held onto hers gently, and with tears already forming in my eyes, I asked her if she was alright. I could tell she was grateful to have somebody reach out and feel her pain, whatever that was, just a little tiny bit.

 Just like seeing someone be sick, that kind of makes me feel a little queezy too, seeing someone cry with such sadness makes me feel sad too. One thing I am very proud of is my sensitivity, yes it can be taken advantage of, but mostly, it more than anything makes me aware of how other people may be feeling, some people in life just go through it saying what they want, about who they want and with no consideration to thoughts and feelings. Because how I feel inside can be so intense at times, I truly believe I am more in tune with other peoples feelings, well I hope so anyway. The lady replied that she was alright, and just looked at me with a little thank you in her eyes, and I gave a little smile and went back to my bag sorting. Of course she could have been leaving loved ones behind, I suppose at train stations many a tear falls down ones cheeks, but I don't know, her crying was just so intense. I shall never know what made her cry that day. The train came, we both got on, went to different carriages, and onwards both our lives went....

 So, what I began wondering is, if you felt those tears come in a public place, near strangers, people who didn't know you, would you let them fall....Sometimes tears just come ( very easily for me as it happens ) I personally think crying is a strength, and not a weakness, not a sign of a poor fractured soul, who needs to snap out of it. In my method training of acting, I could think sad thoughts and be crying before you knew it, but real life is different, the tears are real, there are real thoughts and feelings behind them. But if there was nowhere to hide and you felt the need to have a good cry there and then, would you? And let anyone who felt they wanted to, reach out to you. Also, what would you do if you saw someone cry, like I did, I guess some people just want to be left alone to cry in public and not be bothered, but for me, I just couldn't help but reach out to that young lady on the platform. Though would you look the other way, hold out a hand, want to reach out perhaps, but something holds you back?

For the record, and which may not come as a surprise, I have cried in public....

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I am In love!!....

Oh my, this Yeo Valley advert has certainly livened up my Saturday night....




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My Experience Of The Mad Blog Awards....

So, last Friday I attended The MAD's ( which celebrate's what's brilliant about British mummy and daddy bloggers ) organised by the very efficient Sally and an award ceremony was taking place to crown the winners. More than 50,000 nominations and votes were received and I was very honored to have made it as a finalist in the craft category. Craft is in reality quite a small facet of this blog so I was very flattered that people took the time to vote. The event which took place at the Talk Talk customer experience centre in Soho, and who along with Parentdish were the main sponsors of the event, was built up to be a very glittery affair, and certainly not one to be missed. Having somewhat of an *effervescent* personality and who loves new situations, and meeting new people I was very eager to attend, however, I was of course a little nervous, but I like to taste life, and experience all it has to offer so along I of course went. When I arrived at Euston I was met by two bloggers, Lindy  and Nickie and we made our way together to the lovely hotel

Then it was a quick drop of bags, and we made our way to a little tapas bar around the corner ( or at least we thought it was ;) along with my lovely room mate Merry for a little bite to eat and there I met the lovely Louise, Heather, and Adele. It is so nice to meet other bloggers, sometimes blogging for me, can feel quite a solitary thing, tapping away to a screen, but meeting all these very talented people, makes you realise how truly big blogging is. Is there anyone out there that doesn't blog ;) So after a bite to eat it was back to the hotel, a quick get changed and onwards to the event. There was a little confusion over tickets, I ( being the ditsy thing I am ) had left my ticket in my room, and was thinking they shall know who I am, and I shan't be abandonded at the entrance, however I decided to be a good girl and make my way back up to get it. Once back down, many of the troops had gone and was all alone in London ( ahhhhhhh ) Then some very sassy women, who included Jane  and a different  Heather came to my aid and I popped in their taxi ( thanks gals ) So, we all got there safe and sound and here is the very lovely dress I ended up choosing from TKMaxx who, I was very thankful too for dressing me for the evening.

The front....

The back....

And on me....

And one of my favourite's taken by the lovely Violet Posy....

I loved the TKMaxx bag too....

As for awards, I didn't win, though hand on heart knew I wouldn't, and I can't really remember the last time I got all crafty with an egg carton ;) But who did win was the very, very crafty Red Ted Art and a very worthy winner too :) As they say tis not the winning....All the finalists are winners of a sort, and here they all are....

Of course a girl can pretend....

Thanks to Tom for letting me borrow his award he got for best baby blog, and congratulations too on becoming a dad to be again Tom. I had a lovely time, met some lovely people, even had a go at karoke....Please see beyond the technical hitches, we were actually rather good ;)) If you want a nose feel free to have a look here. I especially connected to Jane who also happened to be a finalist in the same craft category as me and we can't wait to meet up again, and we found out through our chatter....

that we only live about 7 miles away from each other....

Jane or I did not partake in any vino, though I think we are both quite extrovert in nature so we were more than happy to play the fool at times....

Soon it was time to say our goodbyes and we all headed of back to various hotels etc, for me I was ready for my bed, though after a long olde, lovely chat with Merry didn't enter the land of nod till well past 3. In the morning, after my hearty breakfast I headed of for a little walk before catching my train back home. It was lovely....

So I boarded the train, and couldn't wait to see my little Poppins again. Of course I was a little shocked to find one certain little Poppins with a fractured wrist on my return but that is another story....

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