Waves, Step's Back In!

Well, hello lovelies!! I'm so sorry, I certainly seem to have be been AWOL for quite a while there haven't I!? Lets call it a blogging break, holiday, hiatus....oh ok, I'll admit it, the blogging mojo upped and went, closed the door behind and I thought it was never to return. Well as life has it, the mojo has decided to re-appear and I seem to have found my love of blogging all over again and look forward to posting little snippets from my life, and of course my many bargain shopping hauls!! I think we should start with some pretty pictures to get the ball back 'o rolling don't you?

I recently found some quote postcards in the sales for 20p and so I bought many different ones, I enjoy placing them around the home to help motivate and inspire me when I walk in to one of the rooms. 

And of course I'm still loving all things pink and floral! Whilst they were in season, I made frequent Aldi trips every week to stock up on my peony bargains. 

Now the peonies seem out of season, it's back to my trusty roses!

I really don't think the pink will ever leave me!

 When I thought the time had come after many months, no possibly years of pondering over whether to get a pair of the Saltwater sandals, it HAD to be the fuchsia hot pink for my colour of choice. I always thought this particular style of sandal would make me look about 6 years old wearing them, but after hearing so many reviews on how comfy they are I just had to go for it. They are indeed so, so comfy. Having narrow feet, they are possibly a little wider on me than my usual shoe/sandal, but after a few wears (including a paddle or two in the sea) are moulding to my feet much better.  

I'm always still up for a bargain, and having a sweet tooth, I couldn't leave this delicious birthday cake behind for only £2.50!! It was scrumptious and so pretty to look at. It was no-ones birthday in our house, but it certainly felt like it eating it! 

My love of up-cycling is increasing as the days are getting warmer/longer and I have plenty of painting time. A lovely friend has been updating her kitchen dinner into the kitchen of (my) dreams and she has so kindly given me her unwanted farmhouse kitchen table and solid wood chairs for me to makeover. I can't wait to get going and although I've only got as far as giving the chairs a quick rub down and clean, have had a good think about the makeover and I can't wait to get cracking! I was hoping to try out the Aldi chalk paint, but think its a quick seller so haven't managed to get some yet. I do like my Annie Sloan paint but my purse certainly doesn't ;) I shall be re-doing all the seat pads, and fancy something very pretty so shall be digging out my fave Cath Kidston fabrics.

Talking of Aldi, I've managed to find some great bargains from there recently, that middle isle is like an Aladdin's cave of delights sometimes. I'll share my finds  with you on my next post! 

So I've quietly crept back in, and its just been my 9th blog-anniversary, think I'll have to sort out a little giveaway for you guys!! Until then, I'll leave you with a little pic of Master Poppins taken by  the very talented Whitrigg Photography He who was about 2 years old when I started this blog, and now.......he's off to secondary school. How did that happen, time is just flying by...

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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....

X

Ickle Shout Out For Mary Poppins....

 I am not going to make too much of a fuss about this....
And shall let you know calmly and quietly....

But....

This ickle blog....

Written by ickle old me....

Is....

After lots and lots of lovely people voting for it.....

A....

Finalist.....

In the The MAD Blog Awards....

To say I am very touched and flattered that my blog is a finalist in the craft category is an understatement....

I am not going to waffle on too much about how I would love to win, and how much it would mean....

I started this blog as somewhat of an escape, and then I realised crafting was something I very much enjoyed, and became very passionate about. I wanted to inspire others to have a go at it, whether that be sewing a little cushion, or even doing a makeover on a skip found treasure. Also, I love spending quality time crafting with my own children, it really is a lovely way to spend some special time together....

This isn't just about me, there is someone very special  in the back of my mind, who, even though he came into my life for such a short time, has taught me so much and that life really is for the living. I want to follow my dreams, and I have been inspired by so many people in writing this blog and crafting. So, like the oscar winner in me would say, if I won, the award would be shared with you, the reader, my inspirers, my family.....Writing this blog and my passion of crafting is, in some small way, me following a dream of some sort. I am not going to shout from the hill tops, vote for me, vote for me, which makes me feel a little uncomfortable. But, probably as the under dog, I hope you don't mind me giving myself a little shout out, to let you know....

So, if you want to vote for Mary Poppins, and you think it deserving enough, you can find it listed, along with the other 4 lovely craft finalists....

Here

PS. Don't forget my pretty bag Giveaway don't know about you, but Miss. Poppins is VERY excited about picking a winner from the hat.

X

Blogging For Me....

Little Mary Poppins for one reason or another is having an emotional time of it in real life, just life's little hurdles and all that they bring. As I can be somewhat of an emotional person anyway....when I cry, I cry buckets, not just one solitary tear, I can feel a little drained at times and one of reasons I enjoy the blogosphere so much is that for me it is like a little escape, no real life worries here in this pretty place which often on other blogs is bursting with beautiful photographs, dreamy prose, and wonderful, creative, inspiring craft work.

I feel very lucky to have made contact, albeit in a cyber way, with some very lovely people behind the blogs, and even to have met some too. I think about all the lovely cards and little special words that have come my way over the years of blogging....

And I feel touched, I can't bare to throw any of the beautiful cards away that other bloggers have sent. Some even go into frames to be dotted around the house to remind me of blogging and what it means to me. Yes I do reviews, I enjoy doing them and it certainly breaks up the what can be at times monotonous nature of my life...but I do feel my heart is still in it, my soul and for now, however many times I hover over delete, thinking enough is enough, my blogging has come to the end of the road....I cannot do it, something inside me says no, stop! I do not blog for followship, or to be on some bloggy list of top blogs out there, for awards or even to get custom for my handmade pretties. I blog for me, yes, it has taken a little while to realise this, but I blog to just share a little of my life with whoever would like to read, and you know what, maybe I shall still be here blogging into old age....and has actually made me think....I wonder how old the oldest blogger is? 

Happy blogging!

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