SPARKLY GIRL

yesterday was my lovely friend lynsey's birthday. {i always find it easy to remember being guy fawkes night} the thing is she is the most calming and sweet person and couldn't be further from an explosive firework...much more like a happy sparkler to me.

here's the little brooch i made her and a card to match. inspired by a mix of blue eyes...autumn...shimmer...oh and fuzzy felts! {as recently brought to mind by miss pickering}

TEAR SHEET TUESDAY :: 011

so this little magazine tear {from junior magazine dec 09} led me astray to this website...let them eat cake are a british childrenswear brand and i think i may just have fallen in love with several of their outfits tonight! lots of lovely muted colours...vintage styling...and wonderful details like the giant bow. all in fabrics sourced from around the uk.

hard to resist!

{bottom two images courtesy
of the let them eat cake blog}

DATES

three months today is our due date : )

fifteen years ago today me and ciaran went on our first date.

we saw the adventures of priscilla, queen of the desert...and so our own adventure started.

NEW MONTH NEW TRICK

hello november.

one day in and you have already seen me bake spicy gingerbread. warming soup is on the menu tonight and a game of scrabble with my super-competitive c. i wonder if our little one will take after him??

today we woke up to a grey wet windy morning...just before it turned dark we saw the sun set in the most beautifully pink sky. note to self...tomorrow could be laundry day.

when our cat comes in from outdoors i can't resist scooping him up and smelling his fur. i can't get enough of that leafy smoky earthy scent right now. and this is not a hormonal thing...i've always liked it. am i weird?

as usual i made a new calendar for the month. i didn't get round to buying one and have found it easier {and cheaper} to pick out an image and type up any special dates before printing. there are also quite a few nice freebies around...see here {lisa rupp} and here {notemaker} and a lovely desktop autumn one here {shanna murray}.

if you'd like mine you are very welcome {i am very excited that i just learned a way to create the link. i don't know if it's the best way but hey...i learned a new trick!} i shall have a practise pre-december to create something that's a bit more uniform and spacious...but til then...ta da!

nov 09 calendar

just click to print or for an a4 download...then fill in your november. Xx

THE J.O. EMPIRE

tuesday tea and muffins. these ones are jamie's butternut squash...recipe here. i just stumbled on these sweet storage jars on his website too...we're an open shelf kitchen house here and these are perfect for my stashing and squirreling habit.p.s. did you know he sells shower caps??!

BABY HOROSCOPES

yesterday a couple very dear to me welcomed their baby girl into the world! i am so happy for them and can't wait to meet their special little bundle...as yet to be named.

but i do know she's a scorpio. and here's the wee card i sent off to them today along with a gift which i'll post about later after it {fingers crossed royal mail} arrives.

i love making these horoscope cards. i first saw the idea years ago in the spring 2002 martha stewart baby magazine...i managed to acquire all {but too few...in my opinion...copies} of the sweet issues and although i am currently on a mammoth magazine cull in our house i can not bear to part with them. the birth announcements featured in the article actually use a punch to cut out the little constellations but i like to add sparkles for the stars.

and for another adorable arrival...how wonderful to hear the news that baby hili is here...congratulations julie!

WE ARE DETECTIVES

the search is over. aided by a trusty investigator i now know where to get tinned pumpkin!

found by lynn here...and lots of other brightly packaged things that i'm sure i must need. and then a bit closer to home and cheaper here at waitrose.

i now see these pancakes featuring in our future october breakfasts. and maybe a decadent (decaff) coffee.

in other saturday news...i am braving the "junk room" aka the spare room and if i can come out the other side of the mess {without any injuries caused by falling towers of old magazines} i shall light candles for diwali tonight and sit in the glowy darkness watching sparkly dancing on the tv.