Pretty Macaroons

Saturday Snapshots

Happy Saturday everyone!  

Just thought I'd share a few snaps I took on my phone this morning.  The house is coming together really nicely, and I can't wait to share some more pictures with you soon.  Today consists of more sorting and unpacking with the children, then fish and chips and a movie together.  Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Tamsyn x

Doll's House Project

Progress....

Before Pictures...And Thank You

 Dear all

I hope you've had a lovely week!  

First of all, I'd like to thank you from the bottom of the heart for all your lovely messages.  I was so touched by all the beautiful messages I received on the blog, on Twitter and via Facebook.  This week I have felt like a lioness, with so much support behind me, it's been breathtaking.  Thank you all so much.

The move on Monday went well.  I left the house without looking back, I made sure I didn't do 'one last look round' because I knew I would start to reminisce about the good times had there.  The only slight moment I had was when I was sat in my car, packed to the roof, and I saw a little note rolled up and tied to the bush that divided the front of our house with our neighbours.  My daughters school friend lives there, and they leave notes for each other in the bush, sometimes tied with ribbon, or string. That was the moment that nearly got me.  When it was time though, I pulled out the drive, turned up the stereo and didn't look back.  This is the song I had on my little car stereo, and I cranked it up loud!

When I arrived at the new house I had a few minutes alone before the removal men started bringing boxes in, so I quickly ran round and took these shots on my phone.  They're not the best pictures, but you can see the issues I'll be dealing with!  I haven't prettied them up - they show the house in it's raw, unloved state. 

Most of this week has been spent dealing with pulling out the old carpets (very therapeutic!), cleaning, and making the best we can out of mouldy walls.  The previous owner rented three bedrooms out to his friends, and although they were a pleasant bunch, cleaning was clearly not on their agenda.  I did know this however the first time I looked round, and in a way I think it was a fortunate thing as it may have put off many other prospective buyers! 

I love this house so much already, I sleep so well here and the rooms are big, bigger than I remember.  We have achieved a great deal this week, thanks to my parents and my wonderful friends Lucy and Theresa.

We have already uncovered some lovely features which I will share with you in my next post!

Tamsyn x

A New Start - A Post From The Heart

 

Happy Birthday Blog, and Happy New Year!

Happy 1st Birthday blog!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, have a wonderful evening tonight whatever you are doing!

Tamsyn x

My Favourite Pictures From 2013 (Part 2)

July

August

September

October

November

December

Hello everyone!

As promised, here's Part 2 of my favourite posts from each month, Part 1 can be found here in case you missed it yesterday.

What are your plans for New Year's eve?  I'm going to a friends birthday party which will be fun, but will require hair rollers, high heels and large dose of glamour - no small task after a week of hibernating in baggy sweaters and eating chocolate like it's going out of fashion!

Tamsyn x

My Favourite Pictures from 2013 (Part 1)

January

February

March

April

May

June

Hello everyone!

Well here we are, standing on the edge of 2014.  On New Year's eve 2012, I made two resolutions.  One was to wear more red lipstick.  You will have to take my word for it that I stuck to that one!  The other was to start blogging.  So I sat down, came to Blogger, and made the beginnings of a pretty blog.  I was so excited, but so worried that I wouldn't find enough to blog about.  What if I ran out of ideas?  I even made a list of potential subjects/items to photograph, a list that I never even looked at after the first week.  (I've since learnt that the more you use your creative side, the more inspired you become.)  I thought I'd give it a go, see how it worked out.  I never imagined that one year later, I would have joined such an inspiring, creative community, become so passionate about my photography, learnt to fiddle with HTML code (well, sort of!), and that the blog would have been featured in two lovely magazines.  For lots of very dull, grown up reasons it's been a tough couple of years, but I feel so proud of how far I've come with this little project - I'm definitely having a punch the air 'YESSSS!' moment!

So, to celebrate the start of a new year and to look back at 2013, here are my favourite photographs from the first six months of the year, I'll post Part 2 tomorrow. 

 Have a lovely Sunday!

Tamsyn x

Craft Blog Club Secret Santa

Merry Christmas

Dear all

I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful day with your loved ones!

Tamsyn x

Christmas Tree

Hello everyone!

I love Christmas trees, and I'd have one in every room if I could. As you already know, I love a mini tree, and have a couple of those dotted round the house.  We have an enormous Downton Abbey style tree in the dining room, which the children decorated with great enthusiasm, with lots of colour and tinsel.  Then I have this medium sized tree in the living room, which I decorated.  I dug out as many of my vintage red and silver baubles as I could find, and used my Tilda vintage tinsel too.  The lovely bucket was a lucky TK Maxx find, and my sideboard was an auction find which I painted.  I intend to sit with a glass of sherry this evening and gaze dreamily at my tree, although I suspect I will be doing some manic wrapping, cleaning and whatever last minute things need doing!

Have a lovely day!

Tamsyn x

Baking Tins and Vintage Baubles

Hello everyone!

I hope you are having a lovely weekend.  This is a super quick post from me today as I have friends popping round in a bit to exchange gifts and for a glass of mulled wine!

I love these pictures I took of my vintage baubles displayed in old baking tins - they remind me of jewel coloured sweeties in a tray!  

Tamsyn x

Colourful Christmas

Happy Friday everyone!

I'm so looking forward to the Christmas break!!  It's been such a busy few months, I can't wait to do some lounging around, catching up with all the blogs I follow and watching movies with the children.

I decided to decorate this corner of my living room with a pop of colour.  I made the bauble chandelier from the frame of an old drum lampshade that was only fit for the bin, and the lowest tier is part of an embroidery hoop.  The rusty container was from a car boot fair, I bought some hyacinth bulbs from the market to put in it.  The spring green looks so beautiful next to the rustic texture of the bucket, and they will fill the room with a gorgeous scent as the flowers emerge.  

I'll share some snaps with you of some more of my festive decorating with you over the weekend, have a fabulous Friday!

Tamsyn x

Festive Baking

Hello everyone!

As promised, here are some snaps of the mini mince pies I made yesterday with my little boy.  It gave me the perfect opportunity to try out my beautiful vintage baking tins and wire cooling rack I bought in the summer from a car boot fair.  The pies seem to have gone down very well too!

Tamsyn x