Magazine Swap!

So I saw this image of 'swap magazines' on Live Bohemian's photostream on flickr recently and so i asked her what 'swap magazines' were.

Doh! You may think, but yes although i could kind of guess from the word 'swap' i wanted to be clear OK?!

Anyway, she swaps a couple of her favourite magazines every month with another blogger who lives in another country. What a great idea huh!

Maybe i'll start an international swap shop! I fancy a little scandi interiors reading. Anyone else?

Paris inspiration...11 days to go and counting!

Off to Gay Paris in just over a week. I've been busy so haven't yet managed to refresh my pigeon French and check out all the things I want to do. Little Brown Pen has been helping a real lot with masses of inspiration but i must make a list of things to do whilst i'm there. I'm going with some friends, some have been before and others haven't so it'll be a mixed trip but i just want to delight in the wonder of the Marais and eat my first ever macaroon at Laduree. Anyone got anything to put on my list?

And yes this week i will be watching Amelie...for the first time!

And checking out some old SATC 'Paris' episodes just for fun!

All images from Littlebrownpen.

Kids parties

So way back in February and March! Seb was one and Kitty was three. I love a good birthday party. I love planning, preparing amd making but i always forget to photograph stuff before it gets trashed or used! Anyway here are a couple of pictures from the party people themselves.

Sebby had a small family party with a teddy bear theme but Kitty had her first 'proper party' with lots of local friends, party games, face painting by my sister, body tatoos her cousin did and lots of general frivolity! She loved it.

As there were so many children at Kitty's i put large spotty waterproof table mats on my floor in the kitchen with lots of plastic storage boxes in the centre in a long line. I covered this with table cloths and put the food on the boxes. I added pillows and cuddly toys all around the outside so that the kids could sit inbetween the pillows and toys to eat. I hung a really easy to make doilly banner and other crepe paper streamers and banners over the wood beams in my kitchen and for party bags all the girls got a paper bag with a lolly, cake, balloon, Hello Kitty stickers and homemade 'make your own bracelet/necklace kit with some supplies i bought off ebay.

FAVOURITE BLOG FRIDAY...A Beach Cottage

A Beach Cottage virtual inspiration board.









Just a whole load of pictures of life by the sea and beachy type cottagey places. Makes sense now huh?! And it has THE BEST archive pictorially ever! Check out the archive = all the images at a really quick glance. Amazing!

Also check out her real blog here. More of the same and lots of her own cottage with video's and tutorials too. Fab!

Office lust

All the above via Flickr on DecoFabulous photostream.

Eileen Josephine's office from Flickr seen at Decor8




Image from greige.







Still searching for an image I've seen a few times and now can't find. Don't you hate it when that happens! It's a bit like the one above. Black and white. Any ideas??

Anna Spiro's house

I have seen pictures of her house on many blogs and it never stops me wanting to look again and again and well like a zillion times. That Aussie chick has style. I mean just 'google - ing' her brings up a wealth of beauty before your eyes. All of these photos (except the first) are taken from one of her two sites below.
See her blog here.

And Black and Spiro's Interior Design site here.

What i really love is the more you look at her pictures and house tours (like the apartment therapy one here, where the first photo is taken from,) the more you realise how she moves her furniture and accessories to make style changes to rooms and it works every time. I wonder how many of us could just do with moving some pictures and furniture around from time to time?

Antique shop treats!

I forgot to post these pics of some treats i found in a little Antique shop called Squirrels in Brockenhurst while we were away. I'm not overly into floral designs but I fell in love with the little music box straight away which is apparently 1930's and has a circular mirror inside. I have nearly found homes for them all but not quite sure what to use the basket for yet. I tried to come home with a beautiful duck egg blue dressing table too but our car was too full and i wasn't sure the measurements would fit. ;( Hey ho!