Friday 8 May 2015

Two Halves.....






A week of two halves.


Gaining control of some things and losing control of others.


Satisfying, yet irritating.


Taking a step forward.....taking two steps backwards.


Just that sort of week. 





I have a poorly car, and a very booked up garage. It has meant walking everywhere, which isn't a bad thing for my fitness levels, but it has to have been on such a blustery and rainy week. Typical. It has NOT been a good look for me! Think long haired cat that foolishly tip toes around a fish tank and then falls in. That look when they emerge, well, I have been rocking that look all week.







Frustrations of the crafty kind. Making something for someone and not being happy with the colour choice, so ripping it all back, having a colour re-think and doing it all again.






Finally....sort of......deciding on how to decorate my living room. I have decided on furnishings, but still haven't decided on my wall shade. My favourite shade, (I had a small sample left from a rusty old tin in my shed), I tried to get colour matched. Turns out the DIY store colour match systems are fairly pants. What the gentleman described as an exact match in the store, translated to being about 20 shades far removed from what I wanted. Urgh. Annoying. I think I just need to paint my wall any old colour now and be done with it. I have spent a ridiculous amount on tester pots and all to no avail.


I am currently loving all the recent Spring magazine issues. I gave up buying magazines regularly a few years ago, and really only purchase Country Living and Country Homes and Ideas if they look really appealing. My oh My, they have been tickling the old taste buds of late. Very inspiring and full of gorgeous Spring colour. It puts my head in a little spin of glee. I'm a bit sad I admit.








I have been trying very hard to eat healthily too, (thank you for your recipe Annette,on your blog. It has become one of my lunchtime staples!). I'm trying to adopt some strategies from Deliciously Ella. The key to her routine though is organisation which she reiterates a lot throughout the book. Errrr, that's really not my strongest point, and I'm not sure ANYTHING in that book would appeal to the Bears. But, I shall persevere and see if I can make small changes. I'm really craving a Mars Bar at this point in the day though.......and a few tasty cake books are just taunting me in view as I type. *please pretty please willpower stay with me*














Don't you just love that line.......'full of the flavour of April and May flowers'.......It sold it to me. It's lovely with hot water and a dash of lemon. Good for the throat and good for the system.




Thank you for all your comments on my last post. I loved reading them. Glad I can make people chuckle!!!!!!!

























Have a lovely weekend......

xxx




43 comments:

  1. Wish I could get my hands on that honey....that line would have sold me too :) Have you tried Ella's oatmeal? Oh so yummy!!!!

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    1. Ooooh Ella's oatmeal is top on my list! I'm glad you said it's yummy! x

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  2. Great post!
    I do really love that grey blanket you are showing on one of those pictures. I wonder if you have ever posted the DIY!
    Have you?
    Have a nice weekend!
    Xoxo
    Nina

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    1. Hi Nina, It's Alicia Paulson's Sunshine Day Afghan Pattern, and it's available from her shop on her blog 'Posie Gets Cozy'.

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  3. Oh Vanessa, what a lovely post! Please have the Mars bar, don't deprive yourself! Life's too short to deny yourself of a Mars bar. Plus with a house full of boys you'd definitely need chocolate (I've got a house full of boys and chocolate always does the trick!) Have a lovely weekend xx

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    1. I compromised Renee, and had a watery low cal hot chocolate drink! It curbed my chocolate craving......for a bit anyway!!!!! x

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  4. I giggled at the storm trooper lurking within the prettiness! (Am I showing my ignorance, is he in fact a stormtrooper?) Oh yum to the honey, and sitting room plans. And here's hoping that you have a weekend and next week full of things going to plan!

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    1. Whilst I live with boys, the Storm Trooper is mine! The Bear's are not so fussed about Star Wars, but the originals are films I would watch again and again. I'm super excited about the new one coming out in December, though I think I'll be the only one in my family going to see it in the cinema! I've had the funniest day so far, I've never laughed so much!!!!! x

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    2. Oh my, what an assumption of mine! Sorry...

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  5. I too am trying to be healthier. I have a week at the beach coming up in August and I hope to not spend the week feeling self conscious!

    I also pretty much gave up magazines and only have a few subscriptions left and rarely buy them at the newsstand any more but that feeling when you find a good one, a REALLY good one, is just the best!!!

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    1. Oh isn't it the best feeling Jen! I always think the Spring issues are the best. xxx

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  6. Hi Vanessa,
    I hope that's your name. Anyway, first time commenter Maureen here. Found you on Bloglovin'. (What an intro. Yikes.)
    That whole rockin the wet cat LIFE? Yup. Been living it since February. But the way you described it just cracked me up. Thanks!
    Lovely, pretty, pretty colors on your blog. I look at it just to be soothed by them.
    Hope you have, uh, dried off a bit and are having merely a Damp Cat day today!
    :) m & jb (josephine the cat)

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    1. Hello Maureen, lovely to 'virtually' meet you! The Bear's and I haven't laughed so much, at how funny we all look after a wind and rain pounding! It's been dry today so far, although I reckon by school home time, it'll downpour! Why is that?!

      Have a lovely weekend x

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  7. Oh yes, some weeks are the sort you've described. Isn't it grand when you finally realize they are only to be seen through the rear view mirror. When your car is available.

    Meanwhile, each of the images in this post is well worthy of any magazine's pages. Truly lovely and sending a graceful Spring message.

    Best wishes.xo

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    1. Awe thank you Frances. Yes, some weeks just have their ups and downs, it's life, but we go with the flow! x

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  8. If you need a chocolate hit I can recommend the Deliciouslt Ella raw brownies- they are delist and you only need 3 ingredients xxx

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    1. Oooooh yes they caught my eye in the book! I love the fact that they only need 3 ingredients...my kind of recipe.....and if they can replace the chocolate fix then they are a sure fire thing for me! Hope you are well my lovely xxx

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  9. Ha ha - I just LOVE the Stormtrooper (or is it a Clone Trooper, I never can tell the difference!) guarding your yarn! Very reminiscent of my own domestic arrangements.....
    I also have Ella's book, I have introduced my boys to the cannelini bean soup recipes which went down quite well, particularly the roasted tomato and pepper one.
    Katie x

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    1. I think clone troopers are the more streamlined looking troopers! I'm laughing that I'm even saying that!!!!!!!! Oooooooooh, thanks for the cannelini tip. I was struggling to see what the Bear's might eat, but I might try that with them! x

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  10. Hi dear. Happy you like my avocado special. Today I put an extra Swedish sting to it and added some red roe *caviar, you know the kind you buy in a small glass jar at IKEA?). Tasted divine. Bummer on the rainy weather. Hands up in the air for all the walking. And big home envy looking at your divine pictures.
    Happy weekend.
    Xxx
    Annette

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    1. My legs KILL!!!!!!!! I make a point of power walking up a very steep hill everyday. I nearly keel over when I get to the top, but it that's all good right?!!!!!!!! xxx

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  11. I gave up on tester pots ages ago - With the exception of the bathroom and our bedroom, I've painted more or less my whole house in Craig & Rose Stucco! Found one colour I liked and stuck with it! Keep crocheting :)
    Kate x

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    1. My problem is I'm testing blue shaded paints on a blue wall, and next to my perfect shade, so everything is a complete disappointment next to it. They are all actually shades which are quite nice but I'm doing it all wrong. I think I'll just close my eyes and pick a shade and be done with it!!!!! xxx

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  12. Try this yummy recipes for a healthy vegan scone. It is great with a cup of tea. You can sub dried cranberries for fresh. http://vegalicious.recipes/2013/12/18/cranberry-orange-scones/ hope you enjoy it if you try it!

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    1. Oh thanks so much for the link Amy, I'd love to give this a go. x

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  13. I don't often comment but i really needed this picture stimuli today! So very cosy and inviting. x

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    1. Hi there Hazel,

      Bless you for your comment. Have a super weekend! xxx

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  14. The paint match thing drove me crazy once in the past so now I just choose something new based on I don't know what! Need to do some paint testing myself. Hmm, must get to that. I hope that you can find the perfect colour for you!!! xx

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    1. I think I need to paint a wall white and just test samples on that. I'm silly as I keep testing them and then seeing how similar to the one that I love...and of course....none of them comes close, so I'm always disappointed. Testing them on their own merits is the most logical way to go....I just wish my brain worked like that! ha ha! x

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  15. I've bought a few tester pots in my time too, I feel your pain. Finding that perfect shade isn't easy, I hope you find it soon. Sorry your week's been tricky, I trust all will sort itself out soon. Wishing you a very good weekend. CJ xx

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    1. It's ridiculous isn't it! How many paint shades are there out there......and I cannot find the exact one that I want! Typical!!!!!!! x

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  16. love that post, love all the pics and it gives me the taste to redecorate my home too!
    Have a good weekend,
    Miss

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    1. A tip......be better organised than me and do one room at a time! I'm a muppet!!!!! x

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  17. Hi just popped over to your blog to see if your name was Coco Rose! I too love all things flowery and pretty,I have the Cath blanket and the Ikea shade.Your post is quite delightful.Cheerio, Pam.

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    1. Awe thank you Pam, and lovely to *virtually* meet you! x

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  18. Goodness, your photos are gorgeous!

    And about having to re-do crafty projects.... been there.... a lot. Lol!

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    1. Thank you Kristin! I'm on the home straight now with the project and I'm happy with it this time! x

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  19. Beautiful photos as usual :-). Can you tell me where you got the tea towels from? They're just lovely , many thanks Lesley x

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    1. Hi Lesley,

      The tea towels are from Ikea. The one on the left is actually an apron, but they do tea towels in that pattern also. Have a lovely day! x

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  20. Love, love, love your photos, Vanessa! Always so uplifting and pretty. Thank you :-)

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  21. So many gorgeous glimpses into the corners of your home! I love the two candle holders in the last few photos and wanted to ask where you got them, but suspect they are vintage, in which case good find. You should've seen how many tester pots I bought to get the "right" neutral for our living room. It was bordering on ridiculous, not to mention flipping expensive... I hope you find the right one soon. xx

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    1. Gillian, they are Rice DK candle holders. Not sure if anywhere still stocks them as they are a few years old now, but I have a set of 6 in all different colours. They are bright and bold! It's utterly ridiculous how difficult it is to find the right shade! Also, the light in the room that you choose to put it in can make it look so different. I'm getting boggle eyed now with so many similar shades on my tester wall! x

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