Time For A Catch Up!

Well hello there!! Here at Poppins HQ after somewhat of a busy summer, we are slowly getting back into the swing on things...

Whilst feeling slightly (note 'slightly') refreshed from a nice summer break, I thought it an apt time for a little bloggy catch up! I hope you've all had nice summery breaks. The weather has been quite kind to us hasn't it, especially kind as there was no holiday abroad for the Poppins. We've had lots of lovely days out though, trying to keep everyone happy as the children are get older certainly becomes more challenging ;)

I'm a really old fashioned girl, so walking along old Victorian piers, thinking of times gone by is my idea of a lovely time, luckily the children like it too, especially when laden up with two penny coins to spend in the slot machines. I found myself quite addicted to those machines I can tell you! I've also been getting back to the sewing - I've been forever packing then unpacking the sewing machine as the ever continuing work gets done on this home sweet home. Hopefully our plans include the finishing of my own little craft room. Can't wait! I loved making these wedding hearts for special couples soon to tie the knot.

 And talking of home sweet home - I so agree with this statement I read in a book.

Home should  in my opinion  rise away from consumerism, and indeed why I love to re use, recycle, give vintage items a new home and generally include things in my home that make me happy! My next shabby chic project soon to be started, is this pretty pine washstand.

 I was kindly offered it by my family, and if I'm honest, it was looking a little un loved. I can't wait to give it a new lease of life. One piece I really enjoyed giving a little makeover are these chest of drawers, they are so useful in size/shape for Miss. Poppins whose up in the attic bedroom, as they take up little floor space but nice and tall with 6 roomy drawers. I did remove the legs for this project as I wanted to put it right up into the eaves. I hope you like my finished look.

Here they are before I got going on them.

I used wallpaper for the drawers and there's actually a bit of a story to the wallpaper I used - I bought this discontinued Cath Kidston 'Paris Rose' wallpaper some years ago to decorate Miss. Poppins' bedroom - it was a 'fall in love at first sight' wallpaper ;) As I loved it so much I decided to get a spare roll for any eventualities, and the time came to dive in and get some repairs done in her room. Unfortunately as I unrolled it, I soon realised it also came with some sort of design fault. You can see here, the wallpaper should have a faint stripe running through, behind the rose detail.

     

About a 1/4 way through the roll however, the stripe in my 'spare for repairs' roll just disappears!  On the wallpaper I used for the drawers, you'll see there's no stripe at all running through the rose detail - after my initial "Oh no"!! - Thinking how am I going to repair areas of her original wallpaper, and which frankly is looking a little shabby in places, I decided actually, I guess I have my very own unique CK wallpaper, and so like this makeover, it shall hopefully be used for shabby chic projects. Of course the much needed repair work in areas of her original wallpaper up on the wall have been left undone as obviously the wallpaper doesn't match so that leaves me concerned as I just love the wallpaper - but it seems there's not one roll left in all the world :(

Here are the finished drawers in all their fine glory in Miss. Poppins room, looking in my opinion just delightful! I wanted to alternate the strips of wallpaper, she already has quite a flowery room as you can tell ;)  

I decided as she was coming up to starting secondary to give her bedroom a little summer makeover - luckily she loves it...for now, you know how fickle pre teens can be ;)

 As you can see, I still haven't come up with a solution for covering the round window in her room. In an ideal world I would love a custom made round wooden shutter - but looking at costs, have a feeling that's never going to happen! For now she has one of those paper decorations with the Ikea net curtain swept to the side. At least there is a velux blind on her other window that does create a little darkness. With her starting 'big' school, I created a little 'work area' - funny - she seems to prefer the sleeping/dressing/ areas to this one ;)

I lined the desk with a lovely sample wallpaper (from B&Q) - so if she needs a little break from the homework, she can do some colouring in to help relax the mind.

Over the summer we talked about this 'dip- dye' look that seems to be quite popular - I ummed and ahhed and ummed and ahhed some more. I compromised, as I didn't want anything too 'in your face' and definitely wanted her to have a natural sun kissed look. She loves it! I can't believe how quickly she's growing up - right in front of my very eyes. I also can't believe I started writing this blog when she was only 6 years old! So many times I think thats it, my bloggy days are coming to an end, and so many times I also think at the same time that actually, I am so happy to have this blog space to document special times of our lives - if anything as I'm getting older it feels more important to keep it up and update it more often with happy memories.

 I am so proud of the way she has confidently walked on in to a new chapter of her school life, with her knowing no one at her new secondary, it must be quite a challenging time. She has coped admirably, and although she's not been there long seems to have made some lovely friendships which as her Mum is reassuring. She's been referred to orthodontics's, so like I did when I was at school,  shall soon be going off to school with her braces, I've assured her its 'cool' these days to have them :) 

As for Master P, he's had another birthday, now 7 years old, and a junior at school. Loving life! 

Looking at him now and when he was born, all I feel is thanks and gratitude at how lucky we were to bring him home, born so very early and so very tiny.

I've also had a 'big' birthday. If I only talk about birthday's with no 0's in them I am fine ;) I was greeted with these beautifully wrapped gifts from the family :) 

All the family has certainly taken advantage of this gift I received from Mr Poppins. We're fast becoming apple addicts in this house ;)  

   I also received this beautiful crochet book from a lovely friend - I shall master crochet, I shall!

 I adore this cute CK bag and its cheery design - my mum knows me so well and thoroughly treated me with a lovely selection of birthday gifts.   

I had a lovely birthday, spent with loved ones - exactly how I like it :) This little man is still a joy to be around - the house has definitily felt more lived in having a dog around. He nortily has free run of the house so often ends up on the bed!   

  

He also seems rather partial to Miss. Poppins new Ikea pink rug!

As for being a shopaholic, yes, I'm still one of those, think I'm a lost cause on that one!

Hope you enjoyed my little catch up, I'll leave you with a teeny tiny summer project that seemed to be forever a work in progress - finally got it finished!   

Amazing what you can do with a pretty paper napkin or two!

X

Birthday Treats And Pretty Things

It was my birthday not long ago, so I thought I would share some of the pretty things that came my way. Family and friends must know me so well as I just loved everything and I was overwhelmed with people's thoughtfulness. Especially the husband's it has to be said. Look what he brought up to me in bed on my birthday morning....

Tea is my most favourite drink in the world and for me you can't beat that drinking it in bed feeling. I felt very spoilt and when the family brought me up the presents, well, I felt VERY spoilt indeed....

Oh just yum! I like to savour every second, so carefully opened the cards first, knowing it wouldn't be long before I would be diving into a lovely pile of presents. Miss. Poppins' card to me was perfect and as I am always thinking of cake, very me....

 The presents arrived in a bag ( which I kind of knew I was getting ) and I love it so very much, very Pip Studio I thought....

I opened this cute little matching set of nail files first, so handy to pop in the bag. When out and about I often want a nail file but have none to hand....

Next up was this beautiful Vintage Love perfume from M&S. Oh I just love the vintage style bottle and having seen it on lovely blogger Gem's Instagram a while ago, I knew I had to have it, thank you so much husband for remembering....

I had to have a little CK in there too. When we get desperate I can't believe I actually hand out my 'for special occasions only' CK paper napkins to the children when having their beans on toast or whatever. It is no wonder I am always wanting to restock. So these were a lovely surprise from my lovely little Poppins....

I am forever moaning that I can't work out how to upload music onto things and how I miss my old fashioned tape walkman. What a lovely birthday treat from Mr. Poppins this is, hopefully shall make things easier and he even had a soppy personal inscription on the back which I love and makes me smile....

I also kind of knew I may be getting these converse-esque shoes from the children, I was with them when they got them, they are so very pink and very me.....

So, I was very spoilt by my lovely family, and just love my new birthday gifts. We then went to Wales for a little holiday and I saw my brother, and he gave me yet more birthday gifts, all with a lovely heart theme.  Who cannot but fall in love with this pretty Emma Bridgewater hearts tray. Thumbs up to my brother, and his lovely female friend who helped him choose....

What a delightful hearts inspired draught excluder....

And I am so enjoying what pretty things I can pop on the adorable heart magnetic board he got me....

He knows of my love of CK too, so I gave a big smile when I opened these....

Well, thank you bruv. Guess I better up the stakes when it comes to your birthday, which is soon ;) The owner of the store who I know, found out through their chatting that he was buying gifts for me, and she even popped in a little something too. How very kind, and I just love the pretty scarf she got me....

 My lovely Sister In Law gave me this divine sequinned collar....

And these pretty earrings....

So I think you may agree, some lovely birthday treats indeed, and I have been a very lucky birthday girl....

I thought I would also share some pretty things that have come my way, which I have bought here and there and many of which were super bargains. Firstly, I had been hankering after this vintage style limited edition Colgate toothpaste. I searched and searched to no avail. Then on one my jaunts to Home Bargains, I found it. It's not to be used of course, just to look pretty and vintage-y in the enamel mug in the bathroom ;) A bargaintastic 55p a tube....

Many of you may know my shopping habits tend to leave me with little buying obsessions. Oven gloves seem to be the order of day right now, and I can't seem to get enough of cheap and cheerful ones. These were from Asda, in the sale at £3....

Yes yes, I know we haven't really had any kind of proper summer, but I seem to live in flip flops all year round, so couldn't resist these floraly Fat Face ones, again in the sale at £5....

My love of vintage just keeps growing and growing and I really enjoy my time browsing vintage bits and bobs. I picked these 4 green glass dishes up for a £1....

My posy collection is growing well, especially when I keep finding pretty ones like this, again at only £1....

I had to have these brand new crafty items, purchased from one of the stalls at a horse show we went to. A lovely pink knitted tea cosy which I seem to have photographed upside down....

And this gorgeous knitted corsage....

I thought this beautiful handmade bag the bargain of the day....

And I loved these laminated prints that I bought and am going to use as place mats....

So a little post packed with new pretties, hope you enjoyed!

X

A Party, Giveaway Winner And A Blogiversary

So Master P's birthday party was a big success the sun shone, and 'Harry' had a thoroughly enjoyable time with his pals whilst I did my best to play hostess. There was lots of fun and games and the sun shone brightly. Of course a party wouldn't be a party without balloons....

Being a Harry Potter themed party there was this poster to greet everyone as they arrived....
 

And we had all sorts of potions and Harry Potter esque food and drinks....

A Harry Potter party wouldn't be a Harry Potter party without chocolate frogs, broomsticks and owls....

I can't believe my little boy is now 6, where does the time go?

He also picked a winner for my little giveaway and congratulations to Carolyn, whose name was picked out of the hat, your giveaway parcel shall soon be on its way to you. Thanks so much to everyone else for jumping in the hat, I wish you could have all won. We are busy here thinking of ways to entertain ourselves during these summer holidays, and hopefully we shall get an opportunity to get away for a little U.K. break before school starts again. It may just be myself and the children as Mr. P who has had his holiday time with us is back to it and busy working. I think a change of scenery, even if just for a short while is always good for the soul. 

I am also job hunting during these summer months, and with the children at home too it is proving quite a challenge. It is all rather exciting and daunting at the same time. I shall always enjoy making things over at Polka Dots And Posies  and am always flattered that people may want to buy the pretty things I make, but I have found another passion that I would like to pursue so we shall just have to see how it all goes. 

I also seem to have missed my blogiversary on here, gosh I am rubbish aren't I. It shall have been four years since I published that first blog post and goodness me, how the time has flown. I don't know how much longer I shall keep this little olde blog of mine going, but for now I shall keep plodding on. I do kind of see her as my baby, and I don't want to quite give up on her just yet. So many blogs I have seen come and go since I started this blogging journey and in all honesty that makes me a little sad, I miss many people very much....

Anyway I think my belated blogiversary calls for another little giveaway soon. Watch this space ;) 

X

   

A Year Older....

Thank you so much for the lovely birthday wishes, a year older and hopefully a year wiser ;)

I had a lovely greeting when I walked into the kitchen in the morning....

My husband really knows me well, hence the Keep Calm I've Kept The Receipt bag, ha ha. Also he knows I love cake, and so pretty looking was the birthday cake I didn't want to cut into it, so flowery, glittery and pink.

As for pressies, well, I NEARLY got an ipad....Mr. Poppins went on a little search for one though came away without, the thought was there though and I love him for it.

A little taster of what I got....

I had used up my most favourite Daisy perfume and all I had left was an empty bottle....

Though I always have a spare....

I had seen the new perfume in shops and just adored it's delicate, pretty scent. Well I had a lovely surprise when I unwrapped the floral Cath Kidston wrapping paper....

Of course you can't have a birthday without chocolates....

Or pretty jewellery, and I loved the sweet heart watch my lovely sister got me....

As it was I spent much of my birthday on a train with the Poppins children, Master Poppins had a photoshoot with a well known catalogue retailer, and we are back again here next week for an on location photoshoot for one of my favourite retailers. He has had quite a busy summer, here he is looking rather lovely his confidence has blossomed, and I am very proud of him. So if anyone knows of any lovely shops or things to do near the park, do let me know. Well done too to PennyBlossoms who was picked out of the hat to win the whoopie pie book, and thanks for popping yourself in the hat if you did.

Have a lovely weekend.

X