Iconic Lights - LOVE LIGHT

I love mood lighting, and if that lighting actually involves the word 'LOVE' then I'm hooked. I adore the light up signs often found at vintage, country style wedding's with words such as 'MR' and MRS' or 'LOVE'. There is definitely a flair of Hollywood glamour (I'm thinking those lovely dressing room mirrors) with the light up bulbs and I for sure would have them at my own wedding if I was getting married all over again. 

When Iconic Lights got in touch and enquired whether I would like to become a brand ambassador I jumped at the chance, I love to try out new, exciting products especially around a home decor theme and although on the face of it our 1960's home is quite 'average' looking from the outside, dressing up the inside is great fun. I really enjoy putting my own stamp on things and it always makes me happy when visitors say how they like the little corners of my home. As an Iconic Lights ambassador, I shall be getting involved with getting to know their products and how well they sit as a backdrop in my own home. Of course, there may even be that special light that takes centre stage.

As I have begun to learn more about Iconic lights, I have been really impressed with their quirky, up to date and also vintage style lighting. It must also be emphasised that the lights offer great value for money. I fell in love with this 'LOVE' shaped wall hanging light and knew it would fit right in with my home decor. It is battery operated so super easy for moving around to different spaces should you wish. At £18 for this love light, I thought exceptional value and featuring a cluster of 20 warm led bulbs, it really pops out at you when it is turned on. 

I also think it looks super stylish with the lights unlit in the daytime, and along with the flamingoes, creates a really cute vibe on my dining room shelf.

And then it isn't long before the big switch on...

So, I think it can be agreed I just LOVE the 'LOVE' light and its fair to say is very me. I am enjoying having a browse on the Iconic Lights website to see what other lighting they have on offer. Here's a bit of info about the company's story...

"Iconic Lights burst onto the e-lighting scene 3 years ago and hasn't looked back. It was founded alongside the LSE Retail Group offering high quality Iconic, Stylish, Innovative, Classic & Cutting Edge lighting designs at affordable prices. The guys behind LSE Retail found that there was a gap in the market for such high quality lighting designs, sold at affordable prices. Iconic lights appeals to the individual consumer looking for stylish lighting for their home as well as specialising in supplying interior designers, architects and developers with bespoke lighting designs for their own projects." 

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Disclosure: As I am part of the Iconic Lighting brand ambassador programme I was sent the Love light for the purposes of this blog post, all words and opinions are my own.

My Pink World

I really should be growing out of the pink stage by now, but I just can't help but be drawn into this pink world of prettiness whenever I see anything, well, pink! 

Pink is probably all fine and dandy for a girl of about ten, but really all this pink, and at my age?? 

Here is some pink-ness I just couldn't resist.

Pink flowers!

Pink flannels!

Pink (Flamingo) glasses!

More pink flowers!

Pink candles!

Pink bunting!

Pink teabags! (well ok packaging)

Pink pots!

Pink clocks!

Pink Earrings!

Pink bedlinen!

Pink cakes!

Pink straws!

Pink cutlery!

Pink scales!

Oh I just love my pink delights! 

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Handmade Heart Swap - Partners

Thank you so, so much for the lovely feedback for this swap, I am really touched, and in fact I am as nervous as anything to be honest, I so want everything to run smoothly and you all be happy. My main aim from this is to spread a little love and I really hope you all enjoy this swap. When wrapping up your pretties for someone else please know that you are indeed spreading the joy and shall certainly be bringing a smile to someone's face. Hey, you may even make a pen friend out of this too. So anyway, myself and Miss. Poppins had fun picking names out of a hat to pair you up and pairings have mostly been chosen randomly. I kept in mind those that were happy to post internationally and I thought it easiest to keep as many as I could of those that are twitter/email only together. I have linked to your blogs if you have one and twitter accounts if you don't. For those on email only I have popped your name down so hopefully you shall know who you are. 

So, drum roll, here are your swap partners....

SoStacySews and Sarah W

MrsShilts and Beautiful Things By Caire

The Gingerbread House and Team Rigby

Home To Roost and A World Of Imagination

Baileysbear and Stitching Carol

KezzieAG and Depth Of Field

Dottie May and Daisy Daydreams

Love To Craft  and Undomesticated Scientist

Polkadot-Pretties and House Of Pinheiro

Nanny Nora and Vixen

A Pocket Full Of Daisys and Rosalily

Cerejeira Studio and Rachel's Homespun Hideaway

The Vintage Hobbyhouse and Life On A Cupcake

ema_flutterby and joanneinwales

Mummy Adventures and Purple Proby  ( International Swap )

Louise's West Oxon World and Cupcake Mumma

Tabitha Stitchit and FunkyFairy

Monkey Makes Three and Sweet Birdy Love   ( International Swap )

Tangled Sweetpea and Tales from Mount Pleasant

Julie (email) and My Red Wellies

Sharon ( email ) and Pinkstardesigns ( email ) ( International swap )

Please, please get in touch if I have made any boo-boo's which is more than likely, for instance if I have you down as an international swap and you would rather be U.K., or I have paired you up twice or even that you should be on this list and you are not. Please do let me know asap and I shall do my very best to sort it out. Thanks also to the last one or two swappers who joined in last minute so I would have a nice even number :)  Also I am really excited that you have joined up and for making myself and Clare not feel so lonely in this swap of hearts and love. So, we have until the 27th June to get crafty and of course your parcel can be sent before that date. Please get in touch with your swap partner and exchange some niceties, address details etc and I would also suggest letting each other know your likes, perhaps favourite colour/s, whether you prefer the floral look, or maybe gingham, or indeed both like me ;)

If you are doing an international swap maybe think about little things to send to keep costs low. As mentioned all 5 items need not be handmade, and a thrifted trinket or two can of course be included in that 5. If you only have an email as your contact please do look at the original post and search for your swappers email address which you shall find in the comments section. When you get in touch, find out as much as you can about each other and perhaps aim to keep in contact with your partner every so often. There has been  times when I have been lagging behind for one reason or another and I think it is just courteous to let you partner know. Life stuff does happen, so please no stress getting this swap out exactly on the date I want everyone to feel relaxed and enjoy it :) And also if you feel you dont think shall be able to send your swap out, just let me know. Things happen, we all know that.  

So, I think that is about it, remember there is our Flickr group and I think it is a super place to pop our photographs ( with wrapping on and all ;) of our swaps. If you haven't joined I would have look at joining that group if you want to. This isn't MY swap it is OUR swap and I hope it comes across that I really want to share the love and truly hope that you squeeze in as much love in that parcel you send. Have fun and I am more than happy to help out with any questions along the way, so please feel free to stay in contact. 

Have fun in this swap all about hearts....

X    

Keep Smiling And Love Life

Whatever life throws at me I take great comfort and always feel blessed when I spy this pretty note card on my pin board. It seems to sum up in words how I am feeling and reminds me how precious life is, and to indeed keep smiling. I am not going to feel ashamed or embarrassed to admit that having lost our very precious premature baby Joshua in 2005, I shall always carry a little sadness inside me. I can't help it. I feel I totally failed on that one, producing my son that didn't live makes me feel like myself and my pathetic body totally let him down. I've done the bereavement counselling, I understand the thought process one goes through when suffering loss, I know these things happen. But I guess it just doesn't seem fair that my little baby boy didn't even get a go at life, not even for a day or so....   

It is coming up to his 7th anniversary on the 12th June and I am aware of my emotions leading up to it, always a little wobbly, tearful, thoughtful and then the day itself is actually a lovely day where we simply take time to remember him. We have a special tea with cake and is a happy day with lots of cuddles and love. The thoughtful cards that arrived helped my tears, though I more than anyone understand that life goes on, and although that date is etched in my memory, it is not in everyone else's and I wouldn't expect it to be. I have one friend who has also suffered loss similar to mine, and no matter what is going on in our lives that card she sends every year lifts my spirits and does wonders. The power of people thinking about you when you are in need is a great healer and when ever any of my friends are going through the mill, I know from experience how a little thought sent their way can do so much....

Life can throw many a hurdle at us to get over and I think it is how we handle these hurdles that makes us the person we are. I truly stick to my belief that loosing my son is not a hurdle I want to get over, but a hurdle to accept, for it to become a part of me, making me the person I am today. I doubt very much if I hadn't gone through loss of this kind I would be so appreciative and grateful of those around me. I am not perfect and occasionally I forget this, but mostly I don't and can see the true value of thinking of others and being thought about. If like sometimes happens in life, I have silly fall outs with people I try my best to sort it out, to be friends again, as life is just too short. I realise how lucky we are, that even though I didn't get to keep one child I have been blessed with two others and who I probably hug just a little tighter for having them in my life. In reality I am a better person for having had Joshua in my life, perhaps it was just as many say, meant to be....

Maybe having him was a message sent from above to help me learn to be grateful, to love, to face challenging times. Having had Joshua has taught me precious things and even though he was with us for such a short time, he has touched so many hearts. Tears have come so easily writing this post though they are not all sad tears for I am so proud of my little baby boy and how clever he is teaching me valuable lessons in life. Although I wish I could have held him for just a little bit longer, to have had just a glimpse of his beautiful  eyes wide open, I know his memory shall live on and he shall be remembered forever.... 

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Thoughts At Easter

Of course they would be happy with just an egg, but I love to pop a little extra treat or two in their Easter bags. Being a savvy bargain hunter I don't spend too much, and I know Master Poppins shall loves his £3.50 ( George at Asda ) Ben10 dressing gown that I found in the sale, and only £5 for Miss Poppins' pretty summer dress ( George at Asda) The Hannah Montana gift bags were only 29p ( Home Bargains ) hopefully Master Popps won't mind too much ;)

As well as popping little notepads and activity books in which shall keep them busy little bees, I have written special little poems for them to let them know how much I love them and can't wait to see their little faces. We told them that we hoped they didn't mind too much, but the shops had all sold out of Easter eggs this year and that unfortunately they shall have to do without. I am so proud of them, they just said "Oh well, never mind, hopefully we shall get one next year". Luckily my family understand and *get* my sense of humour and we shall all have a little giggle when they are handed their little bags on Easter sunday....

 I am feeling a little low at the moment, very thoughtful and spiritually a little wobbly on my feet. I have lost my confidence in life somewhat, although outwardly I may come across as a confident and vivacious individual, inside am feeling quite fragile I guess. I know that confident person is in there, but I think she has decided to have a little holiday, I do hope she comes back one day. It is coming to that time of year where thoughts of Joshua come to the forefront of our minds, he would have been 7 this year and as always I miss him dearly. Of course life goes on, and I am so thankful he came into my life for such a very short time....Having him has taught me so many positive things, like gratitude, love and caring towards others. I am not perfect and sometimes say things in the heat of the moment before I think but generally I do my very best to be kind and gracious to others. You really don't know what trials people are dealing with in life that they perhaps keep hidden to themselves. I do try to take heed of this quote....

So, I just wanted to wish you a very happy and fun-filled Easter, may you be spending it with the ones you love and don't eat all those eggs at once ;)

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CK Pretties....

I thought I would share with you what I spent my saved up pocket money on at the Cath Kidston store when I was in Manchester the other day. Though I think you may like some pretty photographs of the shop first perhaps. I can be a little fickle over CK. Sometimes, I just can't get enough of it and then at times I find it can be a bit too sugary sweet etc. Though especially at Christmas, oh boy, I just can't get enough of all those pretty things, so cheerful, colourful and utterly lovely.

I fell in love with this wallpaper....

Oh and this little chair....

I could have had a little rest here, not sure about the company though....

So, what came away with me? More pretty wrapping paper....

Oh and some tissue for the *special * gifts....

And a pack of their charity christmas cards....

Christmas gift ideas....

Oh and don't we all have to have a special Christmas mug at Christmas ;)

I have already used the floral candle holder, and popped one one my CK candles in it that were a gift from my mum....

Am all intened to give these Provence Rose ( one of my most favourite prints ) tea towels as a gift, though am quite tempted to keepsie ;)

I have got plans to make a pretty lining for this bag.....

And I had to bring this little reindeer decoration home with me...sooooo cute :)

So that was my little haul, and have to say all pocket money well and truly spent!

Oh by the way have to share the cushion too, bought from Tesco for a song, I know there are so many *LOVE* cushions out there, but this one really took my fancy....

And I guess we all need a little love in our lives....

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12 Years Ago Today....

I woke up this morning to this by the side of my bed....

Is it my birthday? No....and then I remembered. Today is our wedding anniversary. With Miss. Poppins' birthday yesterday, I find it easy to forget our special day. I can often be found last minute on her birthday in a card shop getting something suitable for Mr. Poppins. Of course I had to have a little peak whilst drinking my cup of tea in bed....

He knows me so well and I adore the pink floral cuff. So very me, and the card "Love On a Mountain Top" was very romantic. The children brought me in their special card, which is just so pretty....

So 12 years ago today there was quite a lot of this going on....

Happy Anniversary my beloved....

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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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