My Space

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Monday 3 December 2012

It would be fair to say that things are a little crowded at our house - we live in a two bed victorian terrace which I love and there are some great period features, like original fireplaces in every room, but with two small kids and no clever storage space, we're bursting at the seams.  Sam is still in his cot in our room (at the foot of our bed, bless him) and so we don't even have our grown-up bedroom to retreat to when all the toys and mess get too much.  So I was really pleased when last week I spotted this great little retro table in a vintage shop down the road, which fits perfectly into a little nook in the corner of our kitchen and has become a little haven for me and my things.  I only set the desk up last week so not making the best of it yet, but already I love having my own little space.  

My little desk is just the right size for my laptop, a couple of files, and for keeping my stationary out of reach of little hands! Also, on the chair, is my gorgeous Donna Wilson Badger cushion which was a recent birthday present and I love it. 

The print on the wall is Counting Birds, from Isak.  The files are from Ferm Living and Paperchase. There's also my two Donna Wilson plates sitting in their boxes, waiting to be rehomed onto the wall.(Excuse the photo - had to stick the lights on as the sun just kept hiding away!)

The yellow stem Orla Kiely bowl was also a birthday present, and is great for holding all my bits & bobs - present labels/stickers, cards, washi tape, etc.

Do you have your own desk or personal space in your house? It's only a small thing but it's making me so happy right now :)

Hello

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Friday 23 November 2012



(Images via Refinery29)

Hello... well it's been a while but it's not for trying, time just doesn't feel like it's not on my side at the moment! I like to think that being a full time, stay-at-home mum means I should have time to get my act together - tend to the kids, have the house under control, keep my shop (aneatlittleshop) ticking over, whilst still finding time for the things I enjoy doing but it definitely isn't working out like that at the moment.  Instead I find myself increasingly unable to keep up with my 3 yr old and 7 month old, constantly tripping over baskets of washing, bikes & scooters, and just generally thinking I need a big old lie down!

Rant over though as to be honest I wouldn't want it any other way, except maybe owning a lovely kid-free retreat like this that I could escape to once in a while when I needed some breathing space.  This Brooklyn apartment feels so calm and collected.  I just love the bedroom - the Jonathan Adler bedspread and pillow add a perfect dash of colour and pattern, and all that natural light flooding in is enough to make anyone feel uplifted!

Until next time...  :)

Form Meets Function

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Sunday 4 November 2012




Don't you just love it when you don't have to choose between form or function?  These beautifully simple Kaleido steel trays from HAY can be put together in any number of combinations and colourways, (I love the mint, coral, and grey) and would be a great way to store jewellery, loose change, and all those other little bits and bobs that roam free on your sideboard or bedside table.  They're so pretty it hurts!


(Images via HAYSHOP.DK)





So True!

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Sunday 28 October 2012



I saw this today on Abby Goes Design Scouting, via Cup of Jo, and it made me smile.  I don't know about you but I'm terrible for expecting results immediately, and then wanting to quit as soon as I realise I'm actually no good at something.  I guess the sayings "good things come to those who wait" or "if at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again" are popular sayings for a reason!

(Drawing Demetri Martin)

Getting In The Picture

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Tuesday 23 October 2012

I read this on the weekend and, as a mum, it totally made me stop and think. So, today whilst we were out in the park for a particularly drizzly family walk, I wanted to make sure I caught a moment with Sam on camera. No, I don't like my hair as it was all limp and horrible from the raincloud which had descended on us. And I can't bear seeing all the wrinkles that seem to be gathering, worryingly, around my eyes, but that's sooo not the point...  One day Sam will look back at these photos and just see him and me, his mum, hanging out in the park and having a laugh!




Ho Hum

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Wednesday 17 October 2012

I've discovered some new blogs this week which has been nice... Little Birdie, Hello Olive, My Scandinavian Home and Morten and Me. It's been fun reading through some of their recent posts and finding inspiration and a fresh perspective from what these gals are in to and choose to write about. And in some ways these blogs kind of popped up at the right time too, when I was beginning to feel a bit fed up and, I don't know, a bit blah about all things bloggy.  

Therefore this morning's post from Morten and Me really rang true with me today... (read it here) Sometimes there's just nothing going on.  Well nothing interesting anyway. You know, life is just normal, mundane perhaps. Don't get me wrong, I love my design blogs as much as the next person (what do you think I aspire to here!) and read my favourite blogs daily. But just sometimes I don't have my morning cup of tea in a beautiful, handleless scandinavian-inspired designer mug, and maybe this morning I ate just boring old toast for breakfast off my daughter's plastic animal plate because all the grown up plates were still in the dishwasher. It was just nice to hear that for everyone sometimes life is just life. And we all have dull photos... (but actually the best thing about those pics of our boring old life is that, to us, if we're lucky, they're not dull photos at all!) :)

Here's a few dull photos of our trip to the park today... I love this time of year, Autumn is so pretty.


Out and about scootin'




Sam recently discovered the swings!



A dab hand at the swings!


Looking cool in Daddy's sunglasses!

Birthday Lists

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Saturday 6 October 2012

So it's my birthday in one month from today (32, eek!) and I have to confess I've been busy tweaking my birthday wish list for a few weeks now. Am I too old to still be making birthday lists? Yes maybe, but I find it fun compiling lists of things that I'm into at the moment and apparently I can be one tricky customer to buy for sometimes so a wish list never fails to point my family in the right direction of what will put a smile on my face!

Do you make birthday lists? Do you like buying for others from a wish list or do you think presents should be surprises?

Here's an overview of my birthday list this year...


Anthony Burrill Prints

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Friday 5 October 2012

I don't know if you know of Anthony Burrill but his bold statement prints are really great and definitely worth checking out.  We've just had these two framed and I'm excited about getting them up on the wall this weekend!



images via anthonyburrill.com

Winter Blues

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Tuesday 2 October 2012

It's getting cold out, and wet too :( Winter's coming and although I love dressing for the cold season (new boots, knitwear, scarves, etc!), I do start to feel a little down in the mouth... the grey days, the dark evenings, it can all get a bit gloomy.  So when I saw this house tour on one of my favourite blogs Seventy Tree, I just had to bookmark it for days when I need a little lift and a bit of inspiration.  It's such a gorgeous home, and I mean a really gorgeous! Take a peek for yourself.




Still Dotty For All Things Spotty

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Thursday 20 September 2012

Loving this spotty denim blouse from J Crew... Pretty meets geek chic, and perfect for sunny Autumn days.  Shame I've not got the pennies at the moment for this little number but will definitely be keeping my eye on it!

Happy Days

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Tuesday 18 September 2012

At last, my new hard drive has been ordered and is on it's way, and all my data has been successfully rescued from my poorly laptop... phew! Any day now I can get back to regular posting :)

Just as a little aside, Tabby started her preschool yesterday.  She was so excited and took it all in her stride, I couldn't have been prouder of her.  Here's a little snapshot of her walking with her Daddy for her first day... so cute, every time I look at this I think my heart might pop!


The Day My Laptop Died :(

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Thursday 5 July 2012

Monday morning, got tea, got toast, got 5 mins to spare when Tabby is engrossed in CBeebies and so went to check my emails only to find that without warning or a fuss my laptop has gone and died on me.  D'oh. It was working the night before, I even shut it down properly before heading to bed instead of just flipping it into sleep mode like normal.  But nothing, nada.. It won't boot up. Hence no blogging for me just now.  I've had my In-house IT guy (aka Mec) working on recovering my data for me and there's hope that a new drive (I may sound like I have a clue what I'm talking about here but I really don't!) will bring my laptop back to life so for now I'm crossing my fingers.  (For this post I've snuck onto Mec's laptop whilst he's busy on the iPad but he'll want it back soon!)

I'm also typing this very slowly, with one hand, as I have a baby tucked up asleep in my other arm, so I guess what I'm saying is once I've sorted out my laptop problem and am not stuck under a small but increasingly heavy (albeit very cute) object I'll get back to blogging soon!


Hooray For The Weekend

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Saturday 23 June 2012

Boy I'm tired! These 5am starts at the moment are starting to catch up with me and between looking after the kids all day, tidying my bomb site of a house, and cooking for my friend who came for dinner this evening, Friday has slipped by in a blur!  It's all good though, and as of Monday I'm off on holiday for a week so can't complain. Looking forward to a much needed rest! 

I hope you have a good weekend - here are a few things you might like...      

Loved Grayson Perry's recent three-part Channel 4 documentary "All In The Best Possible Taste" on British class and taste - if you missed it you should try and watch it on catch up.  Recognise yourself?!




As you know I'm a fan of Fine Little Day - their stuff is so beautiful, and these gorgeous wool blankets are no exception!  I'm in love with the yellow...






My brother emailed me this article he'd read about toddlers and modern technology, like TV, iPads, iPhones, etc.  It's an interesting debate - Tabby loves CBeebies and can practically can use our iPad with her eyes closed... are we making a huge mistake?!

Spots vs Stripes?

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Wednesday 20 June 2012

I think it's just possible that I might have to cheat on stripes with spots! This spotty blouse from Topshop is so pretty and I love the exposed zip.  Yep, I've got my eye on you!

Bed Linen

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A friend of mine recently mentioned she was thinking of revamping her bedroom and asked me if I'd seen any nice bed linen sets, since she was finding it hard to come across anything she liked.  Everyone's taste is different of course but here's what I'd choose at the moment.  Our bedroom walls at home are plain white, and we have with an oak bed frame and a white sideboard, so personally I like bold, graphic patterns and prints for duvet sets to add some personality into the room. But if that's not your cup of tea then a calming pale grey or even crisp white set with a few mix and match cushions to inject your style into the room would look great too.    

Here are some print and patterned sets...

Orla Kiely, Tiny Stem Set, £75

Orla Kiely, Scribble Stem Set, £75

Anorak, Kissing Robins, £55

John Lewis, Oslo Woven Check Set, £35

Habitat, Freddie Set, £30

Or go for a plain simple set and add patterned cushions. Here are some ideas...
Ikea, Malin Lov cushion, £3.99 (!)

Ikea, Stockholm cushion, £15.99

Ferm Living, Spear cushion, Small, 54 euro

Anorak Kissing Horses cushion at Urban Outfitters, £40


John Lewis, Geometric Print cushion, £25










Father's Day

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Monday 18 June 2012


I love this photo, it really sums up exactly what yesterday was all about! Despite the overcast skies we had a great weekend at the beach for Father's Day, barbecuing hotdogs on the deck of the beach hut and eating homemade rocky road for afters... oh so good!  Tabby had a blast, hunting for crabs in the rock pools (she found one) and eating way too many ice creams, and Sam got his first glimpse of the sea, when he woke up at last! A good time had by all I think!

 Hmm, can't think why she's got a cold now!

Hot dogs for everyone!

Sam keeping warm in the beach hut!

Boo!

Hooray For The Weekend & Happy Father's Day

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Friday 15 June 2012

I had one of those moments this morning when you first wake up and think it's the weekend, only to suddenly realise it's not.  D'oh, don't you hate it when that happens.  Mec always asks me why I get excited about the weekend when surely it's pretty much the same as the rest of the week for me, but it is different.  Even though I don't do the Mon-Fri, 9-5 routine, the weekend still feels like a much needed break from the running errands and general hum-drum of the weekdays.  And it's mostly different because I have someone else on my team for two days, to be my sidekick, to drink tea with ... Daddy!  Which leads me nicely onto Father's Day...

Have you got anything planned for Father's Day?  I've got something simple & fun planned for the family but will leave it til Monday to hopefully share photos rather than saying here and now in case Mec reads this.  We're heading off to the seaside though so crossing our fingers for at least some sunshine in between the rain showers!

Have a nice weekend and here are a few things on my mind at the moment -

I have a real itch this weekend to watch Somewhere on DVD - have you seen this? It's kind of slow and subtle, but a real gem if you stick with it.  (If you loved Lost In Translation you'll totally get it)

Love this teapot - simple design and so many colours to choose from... I think I'm feeling either the yellow or the turquoise at the moment.

Feeling uplifted by the floral prints at Whistles - this Wild Meadow Shift Dress is so cool with it's pretty floral print yet simple, unfussy cut.

Lastly, I'm still smiling from a sweet little spontaneous picnic I had in the park with Tabby this week... she was so funny.  I picked a patch of grass to sit down and she said "what a beautiful, quiet spot mummy. Let's tuck in"... It was like she'd read appropriate things to say at picnics or something and was just waiting for the right occasion to use them!  Here's a quick shot of Tabby striking a pose during our picnic.







Native Shoes

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Wednesday 13 June 2012

This is a blatant repost from a couple of blogs that I follow (Cup of Jo, NYC Taught Me), but if like me you have small kids you might find these cool...

It's hard to find hip looking, durable and comfortable outdoor playshoes for the little ones that won't get scuffed or wrecked after one afternoon's play yet these seem to fit the bill!  Native shoes have the awesome look of trainers but the practicality of say, Crocs (which let be honest aren't going to do much for your child's street cred - although yes, Tabby does indeed have a pair in red).

I might be the last to know but you can get these in John Lewis, amongst other places, and for around £30 they seem like a good buy for a decent summer's worth of play.  I'm loving the green pair!






Images via John Lewis website


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