Ilse Crawford At Ikea

I recently took a trip to Ikea with my Son and his girlfriend having recently moved into a new home together. I wanted to buy him a desk for his study. He chose the light cork desk from the Sinnerlig collection by Ilse Crawford. So tactile, it brings real warmth to the study. I did joke that maybe we buy a piece of wood and stick cork tiles on top.... but, mmmmm, definitely not quite the same effect as Ilse!!

I love the range,  the rawness and natural qualities of the materials used. The range consists of rugs, cushions, lighting, furniture and pottery. I particularly liked the dark cork desk top - if I were buying I would team with this chair to make the lighter areas really pop.  But,  I have my own desk,  with its own stories. 

This desk,  I've told him must go with him wherever in the World life takes him. This desk is to gathers the marks of the everyday - it's not to be precious about, the marks of different time periods, where all nighters have been pulled,  deadlines reached, coffee rings and stains,  a desk that shows the journey of time, the journey he's taken as he starts his Masters in mathematics and later his PhD. I'm one proud Mama!

Anyone been to Ikea recently? Did you see the Ilse Crawford range? Did you like? XX

Pretty Pink Glasses

A few weeks ago I had a meal at my friend's house.

She had the prettiest shade of pink glasses, with a pretty pressed flower design.

Long story short, I found four sat on my desk a week later -

aren't they pretty?

Find them at Ikea, along with other pink offerings!

What do you think? Pretty no?XX

52 Weeks of Happy (7 & 8/52)

Joining two weeks together this week due to escaping last week with a friend!

Jen writer of  Little Birdie blog started this hop over a year ago, 

but I loved the idea & decide to do the same!

So here we go - eight happy moments (some may not have been moments!)

• Picked this little soft toy up in Ikea - they are doing a selection of them for charity - & well, it has antlers, hehe (stag fetish overdrive!!)

• Kept wondering why stag (moose) kept falling off the bookcase - discovered why - Olly! He is now very grubby ;-0

• This lovely crochet angel - found in France I just love the simplicity, the craftsmanship, that it's unusual & a bargain  at 4 Euro!

• My Daughter may be 19 (next week) but I have still done an advent calendar for her. This year it's Kinder chocolate (from France) in the Advent calendar we have had for years and was made by my clever Mama!

• Deciding what to do with these absolutely beautiful French Christmas postcards - posted to loved ones in the 1940's & 50's.

• Posting a gift to my French friends - it arrived the day I left for France! It is a Vistaprint calendar 2014 containing memories of our holiday together to Scotland in September. Really lovely gift, simple to add your photo's in and good quality too!  Forgot to take a photo - gggggrrrrrr

• Adding drops of this gorgeous oil (baby talc smell!) to a damp flannel on the radiator in the hall when I don't light a candle. You have to smile when you smell baby smell!!

• The beginnings of the Festive Season....

• This sight that met me as I ascended the Metro in Paris with a good friend :-)

Hope you have had smiley moments this week!

XX

52 Weeks of Happy (5/52)

Joining in with Jen from Little Birdie and her '52 Weeks of Happy' 

(although Jen has finished hers!)

 Four happy moments that have spontaneously made me smile this week!

• A trip to Ikea with my lovely Mum to look at kitchens. As we walked in we were met by this wonderful Christmas Display - what a creative idea - would love all those sheepskins to scatter around!

• This bundle of fun, 'Pan' (aka Stylish Pooch)  belongs to 'C' (aka the best friend a girl could wish for!) & has come to stay a couple of days. He is a Bichon Frise - the breed is described as being 'merry' & 'cheerful' - he definitely is!! :-) 

• Wow - this Neom candle I won!! In a FREE raffle at a Christmas Shopping Event here - I was soooo excited & the smell is *devine*.

• Finding this sneaky bottle amongst Pan's poochy things, as a thank you from 'C' for having him - anytime I say if this is my reward! ;-)

Hope all who drop by have had a wonderful week 

& some smiley moments too! 

XX

My Bedside Table....

When I first started to think about writing a blog, my initial thought was to call it "My Bedside Table".

Why?

Because that's where most of my family organisation happens! I read, write, pay bills, check my internet banking, look at ParentPay, book holidays, research....ok, ok, you get the picture!!

I even took photo's for my header photographs...then...went on to Blogger to start to build my blog to discover the domain was taken. Gutted!

I sat with Mr. L, both of us trying out different names. Looking wildly round the room I then came up with it - sat on my sheepskin rug on my sofa I glanced up at my stag's head (remember I said I have a stag fetish?) draped in fairy lights and PING 'sheepskinsandfairylights'.

This is turning into a story! Anyway, I had all these photo's of my bedside table so thought I'd share them in a blog post :-)

As you can see my bedside table is ram jam full!

The rabbit below was a present from my Ma & Pa years ago - it's twin sits beside my Sister's bed! Peep in the basket you can just make out a small wedding day photo of Mr.L & I!

Below, in the ribboned box is a gift from 'C' aka The Best Friend A Girl Could Wish For - it's a beautiful candle by Bahoma London - I am not allowed to burn it until I have burnt the remains of my other candles dotted throughout this house! Does anyone else do that??

Daily essentials - jewellery, Vaseline & Steam Cream (LOVE the tins that this all round moisturiser come's in - 100's to choose from).

Large glass of water - I try to drink 4 or 5 of these a day, especially when I plan to run/cycle - it definitely makes a difference to my performance (& my skin).

 Lamp from Ikea below displaying bits & pieces - the bit of wood from our holiday last year in Corsica - Random!
The rabbit stone is a Medicine Spirit Stone to give positive energy & create balance, mine is for Peace (from my lovely 'C').



Goes without saying - TEA for me the best start to the day - especially in this mug! 

I love the clean smell of the Olive Body Butter from Body Shop. Currently 25% off at Body Shop quote - NEW25 at the till. 

Hand cream for me is a necessity as I've gotten older - currently using Sanctuary which is also a favourite, the fresh smell of the orange zings me awake in the morning. The REN radiant eye gel was a magazine freebie - must. use. eye. gel. more.



 Hope you've enjoyed this peep into the chaos at my bedside!

XX