Not Quite Practical, But Very Pretty....

Do you ever buy things that, well, you deep down know has no real purpose apart from looking pretty....

When I saw 12 CK placemats for the kitchen table at £4.99, I thought Ohooo what a super bargain. I must have them.

Then I realised they were made out of paper!! I mean really, how practical is that going to be on the table with two young children, who love their drinks, ketchup and ice cream....

Well my philosophy is, life is for living. I no longer save my best for best occasions, I love this quote....

' Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.'

So, the paper placemats are at the kitchen table and the children eat and drink using them, and they look pretty! Perhaps 4 have had their pretty use already and no longer look too pretty, but hey why save them for a special occasion, every day is special....
    

 
 
Of course, I had to get the matching napkins too ;0)
 
 

Heads Up On A CK Freebie....

When I was choosing a weekend magazine to curl up and relax with, I saw that there was a little Cath Kidston freebie tote bag with June's Edition of Easy Living magazine. With a design choice of navy floral or a navy provence rose.  Luckily there were both choices of bag available where I purchased my magazine.

The bag is about the same size as a CK book bag, and is a pu coated nylon type fabric.

You also get a free copy of the CK catalogue and also a 15% discount available online and in store with Cath Kidston. Well, it would be rude to keep the magazine on the shelf wouldn't it, so of course I thought Easy Living would indeed be my weekend choice of magazine, and as I preferred the provence rose that is the style of bag that came home with me.

Easy Living really is the best for CK freebies so am always on the look out....

X

Because Sometimes....

You just need a little treat, and like Lissy Lou I saw this lovely £8.00 CK esque bag here and even though it has a chain strap that I am a little unsure about....

It really did whisper to me in the softest of voice....




BUY ME!!!!

X

Can You Be Too Old For Florals....

Thank you for all the owl comments in my last post, those eyes are still watching me ;0)

So, this post has a floral theme, and I am wondering, should there be an age limit on wearing florals. My favourite buy from the sales ( I think was £7.00) and which I love to wear is this pretty and very CK esque little cardigan, I wear it with skinny jeans, with not so skinny jeans, with skirts and tights, and as the sun is out today *YIPPEE* soon hopefully I shall be wearing it with my little shabby denim summer skirts and flip flops, wishful thinking perhaps....

Anyway here she is....

I rather like it don't you. Anyway the florals straight away jumped out and me and I promptly went over to the desk and handed my money over. Roll on a week or so, and whilst have a lazy Sunday morning stumbled upon Hollyoaks on the television. Hollyoaks always takes me back, as I remember going for an audition to be in it when it first came out all those years ago, anyway am digressing. Whilst kind of watching ( yes I am embarrassed ) one of the characters, a character age of maybe 17/18 was wearing this exact same cardigan. It looked very nice on her, and then got me thinking.

Am I told old to be wearing florals, should there be an upper age limit, like the wearing of skirts above ones knee, is the wearing of florals a little, how can I put it, kind of childish. Only suitable for those age 5 and under. Can I ever be taken seriously wearing such pretty floral prints.

Well I am in love with them and I would say every single day somehow, somewhere,  I wear some form of floral, whether it be my earrings....

Or even my shoes....

There is always a floral in there. Interiors wise I think you can get away with florals, though again can it be overdone ? I am so inspired by Alice Whately's lovely book In Bloom....helps you get it just right with the floral decor.

Make do and mend....

Simple chic....

Feminine florals....

New romantic....

Pretty prints....

But when it comes to actually gracing ourselves with florals, well is it a bit too much. For me, enough is never enough and until I am told otherwise, I shall keep bringing those floral frocks out of the wardrobe ( yes, even at my age ) I would so love this little number to be pulled out of it one day....

Or is that taking it a bit too far at my age....

X

CK Pretties....

Hello :0)

Glad you liked the pink tool kit, it was £4.99 and from the always popular with me for cheap home pretties, store.

Ohooo lovelies, today is not turning out the way I had planned, I think the little man or lady is back and I am right about ready to pack my bags and leave tonight. I know when I signed up to live in the country, mice sometimes come along with that package, but he, she, or even they seem to like my little home, and I think would like to put up roots. So anyway there has been a little family chat, mostly me screeching and nagging, then of course other issues become an issue, it's my fault we have a mouse because I let the children walk round with food, true, more telling off about my cyber life, ie I probably should get a real one, hopefully meant in an almost jokey way, but has got me thinking, so the day is turning out to be a little of a cr** one actually. 

I thought to cheer me up a little I would share some prettiness, and show you what my little CK purchases were, that I bought when I went on a little shopping spree a week or so ago. They have a cute little child's bed display, I don't know about the children but I could happily climb in that of a night.

Before I went on my little CK spree, I popped into a store I sometimes have seen lovely, and very reduced CK pretties. Normally prints they don't do anymore and the like. Well, when I saw a duvet cover, half price, and in one of my favorite prints, in the basket it went. I couldn't find any matching pillowcases but that didn't bother me too much as I think CK bedding works so well with the mix and match look.

In the CK store, here is what I bought. A cute little purse for Miss. Poppins for her healthy tuck shop money, pretty napkins and tissues, and a sweet keyring for me, all in the ever popular Provence Rose.

A cool cowboy flannel for Master Poppins.

As I was chatting to an assistant, she explained to me that little Stanley was retiring and was going to be putting his cute and muddy paws up for a well earned rest. Being a girly girl, Stanley isn't really up there in my top favourite prints of CK, but as he is soon to be no more, in print of course, I wanted a little of him to come home with me.

Ohooo so cute hair grips for moi.

And some lovely badges for prettying up my bags, a cute pink plastic bobble, adorable mirror, pretty tissues and some funky pencils.

So, a nice little CK shop, nothing too fancy or individually expensive but some pretties to play with and bring a little smile to my face.

X

I Am Possibly CK Crush Mug Bonkers....

Hello lovelies :0)

I have had a couple of lovely emails asking about my little hmmm alright not so little CK crush mug collection. I had to giggle as I had a friend round last night, her daughter and mine are friends and she wanted to purchase a couple of pretties for a friend. Well, she saw some of my Cath Kidston crush mugs and picked one up and genuinely thought they were for sale, eeek is my home starting to look like a shop, urrr yes probably ;0)

I have to say I bought my first crush mug maybe 2 years ago, it was the lovely Circus one and well I don't know at £4.00 I thought very reasonable, I love my tea and are a really good size. A lovely shop near me occasionally do special offers on them and they are pretty to look at. So here you are, a little photograph of my little CK mugs, hee hee you shall think I am bonkers won't you. As you can see by the stickers, I don't use half of them, display purposes only!!

 As long as CK do these pretty mugs, I shall be very happily buying them ;0)

X

Christmas....

Hello, hope you are all in fine festive spirits, and enjoying all the Christmas festivities.

I have been enjoying reading all about your children's nativities. We took a trip last night to our local Parish church to see our daughter in hers. She was magnificent in the choir, I don't know where she gets her voice from ;)





When we came home we had some yummy hot chocolate, my favourite is Green and Black's....We sat down for a lovely Christmas read. One book we are loving is Dear Father Christmas.





I read all about it on a lovely ladies blog, Vanessa from Do you mind if I knit who is the illustator of the book. It really is a most magical book and on many of the pretty pages are little envelopes with letters and all sort of wondrous things in them, that children shall love.





Aswell as the letters and little treats there were two favourites my daughter liked, a pretty card from Father Christmas himself.





And a pretty decoration for the tree.





Aren't Vanessa's illustrations beautiful and dreamy. I hope I have done them justice with my photography.





My favorite one, Mmmmm could it be all those prettily wrapped presents. Miss. Poppins and I spent quite a while on that page guessing what was in each one.





And Miss. Poppins' favorite page. In fact little Holly, the girl in the book has a certain look of my own sweet child, and I am certainly getting asked the same sort of questions that Holly asked of Father Christmas in the book.




So a wonderful Christmas book methinks and if you would like to know where I got mine from, Vanessa kindly lets you know.


So, how is your shopping going. I enjoyed my reflection on all the present buying and realised I was getting a little behind. I ordered a couple of pretty CK umbrella's for my two children, and not bad for £8.00 each I thought. It looks like my daughters won't be here until after Christmas so hopefully they can share the one purchased for Master Poppins which has arrived safely, it has cute coloured little planes on it.





I have also been doing some Christmas shopping for myself ;) Do any of you Christmas shop for yourself, I really shall be wrapping these little pretties up and writing my own label and giving myself a big hug.


Some pretty ballet shoes.





And a gorgeous glass bead floral bracelet, I love it.





Isn't it so pretty.





Have yet more Christmas shopping to do, my husband being one of them. Mmmmm well as he has been a very norty boy shall have to think about that one ;)

I have been doing a little crafting too, little sacks and giant sacks for the children, and more pretty bunting. I enjoyed making this for a new little baby.





Hope you are enjoying the festivities.

Merry Christmas

Come To My Party....

Would you like to come to my CK party, you are all invited. Thank you for helping me organise it Lissy Lou I understand there are many more having the CK party too :)

I found you all in my bloggy address book....





There shall be bunting....





Pretty tins busting with sweeties....





Choose your favourite drinking vessel....





Why don't you bring an overnight bag....





Choose your own pretty pillowcase....





There shall be some reading....





And we could pick some pretty flowers....





Of course there shall be food but first you may like to wash your hands....





And then dry them with a soft fluffy towel....





Once we have had a bite to eat and a nice cup of tea....





We could write some pretty poetry to send to someone we love....





There shall be candlelight....





What lovely wrapping paper....





Hungry again....





More tea....





Ohooo look I have found some more pretty writing material....





A little midnight snack perhaps....





Time flies when you are having fun, was loving seeing you all, I hope you like your party bag....





Ohooo hang on whose going to help with the washing up ;)....





Thanks for coming and look forward to coming to yours :)

Fabulous idea Lissy Lou :)


Post in honour of Ms....




Happy Partying

X