Torture

I'm off to subject myself to untold torture this morning. I broke the corner of my tooth, so now I'll be dragged kicking and screaming to visit my lovely dentist. I know I sound like the biggest sook on earth, but that's not true at all. I'm the survivor of a hellish 30 hour labour, so I'm no stranger to a little pain and discomfort. But after a few bad childhood experiences at the hands of my old dentist, it's a phobia I haven't managed to conquer. Wish me luck. And let's hope he doesn't arrive looking like this joker, or I'll be out of there faster than you can say 'root canal'.

Not funny Mr Dentist, just plain creepy.

Blog Love

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Fun Blog: How About Orange
DIY Heart Garland

I am passionate about blogging. I love to tell stories, and I love to read others. You follow a blog for a while and you feel like you know the author - and you might through online dialogues or actually meet one day.

I think about what I am going to write everyday, what might be of interest. It keeps my antenna up. Good brain food. I have a long list of post ideas and big file of photographs.

Beautiful Blog: Dreamy Whites
French Farmhouse Inspired Living

Unique to his profession, Charles Dickens distributed his book chapter by chapter often ending in cliffhangers. Obviously a big hit. Isn't this basically what blogs offer - just one chapter at a time? But take it further - it is an interactive book, where reader and author can ask questions and have conversations.

Quirky Blog: Make Mine Mid-Century
Horsey goes to the library

Some blogs are written like magazines, some as biographies, and others like coffee table books with beautiful photography. Like a bookstore, there is something for everyone.

I think blogs attract like minded readers, so interior design blogs attract other i-designers (or wanna bes, like me);  blogs written in a positive voice attract positive people.

Thought Provoking Blog: Privet and Holly
What would your day of hooky look like?

I know there are many many blogs to choose from. Thank you so much for reading in my little corner of my world. It's so good to have you here!

It'll be all white....

...with a few unexpected hits of blue thrown in for good measure. What will? My beach house, of course. I found this stunner some time ago, and it had me at hello. Whitewashed walls + killer views + pops of colour = perfection in my book.

all images courtesy atcasa.corriere.it

Well, a girl can dream, can't she?

Squeal!

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

The day I failed my driving test, all was not lost. My inbox announced that Kelley from Bad Hausfrau gave me a blogging award. Kelley, your timing was impeccable! Thank you, thank you :)  I am honored

If you have a chance, visit her 'Notes from a Clueless Housewife'. I just love this photo of the 'bookstore cat'

[image: Bad Hausfrau]

Now for those of you having a 'Johnny Cracked Corn (and I Don't Care)' moment, just turn away. But let me bask in the glory of being noticed and feeling loved for just a brief moment

So in order to accept the award, I need to write 7 interesting things about myself. Grab your tea (or your blindfold); here we go...

1. My happy place is Costa Rica. I lived there for 2 years, post-college. In my next life, I hope you'll find me living in the rainforest as a bird. Two of my favorite photos, pre-digital era:

2. My newest product idea is to bottle English rainwater. Sell it to Anglophiles? Good for the garden? Great face tonic? My husband encourages me to not spend too much of our savings (or time) on this endeavour. But I am taking orders now :)

3. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a professional water skier. Or at least compete or go to a ski camp. I still have a fetish for those floral swim caps

[Google Images]

4. My Hollywood cuties are Ashton Kutcher (cool factor), Matthew McConaughey (Texas drawl), Hugh Grant (goofy). And yes, I did have to look up how to spell their names correctly. Except for Hugh's :)

[Google Images]

5. You know I have crazy love for photo editing online with Picnik. I just discovered the 'Touch Up' section. Play around with the airbrush, mascara, and thinning features on a few photos. Hollywood magic at your fingertips. Better than sliced bread. And I do love warm bread and a really good burger (that's No. 6)

7. As of yesterday, I am the proud passer of the UK Driving Theory Test! A big WOO HOO! Popping the cork now...

The last part of the award is to pass it on to another blogger. There are so many blogs I am loyal to and adore. However I must choose, so I give it to Sarah (with an H) from Modern Country Style who lives in the Cotswolds (lucky girl). Somehow the fates have connected us, as we live parallel lives. Yet we hope that our 'parallelity' will defy mathematics and intersect with a meeting one day soon.  Her blog is not only a feast for the eyes, but humorous and uplifting too.

With a spring in my step, wishing you a delightful weekend, my friends

 

Friday Fun: What Is Your Design Style?

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

[image: How About Orange]

Yea! Another Friday Fun day :) 

Just for fun, find out which of the 20 individual styles belong to you.

Take this short quiz to 'define your style' from Stylish Home. 

The quiz revealed that I like the quiet and simple life (no surprise there). My design style - 'California Country' with a cottage kitchen, warm and charming bedroom, and enjoy being outdoors

What about you? 

Happy Weekend!
 

My Australia Day

After all the recent dramas here in Queensland, it was nice to get away and appreciate just how amazing this country of ours really is. We loaded up the crew and headed north to Noosa, and spent a lazy day swimming, eating fresh prawns on the beach and generally enjoying a picture-perfect day Australia Day:

 the mr's first attempt at a panorama shot 

The beach, fresh prawns, a drink or two......can't think of a better way to celebrate all that's great about living in this fantastic country of ours. Hope you all had a great day too.

Laser Tags

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

How clever is this? At the grocery store I use a handheld 'gun' and shoot the product label; I bag the items as I go along. When my shopping is complete, go to the till, give them the 'gun', pay, and I'm done! 

The kids love running to get items around the store so they can 'shoot' the labels - anything that makes the kids happy at the store :) Right?

Into the blue...and jogging my memory

It's no secret that I love me a bit of blue. Indigo, cobalt, azure, turquoise, aqua......love 'em all. So when I saw this month's issue of Veranda magazine, it was enough to whet my appetite.

via kirstenkelli.com

I know I'm not alone here. I saw this pic on the lovely Judy's blog, Verandah House today:

...not only did I fall in love with all the gorgeous blues, it also reminded me of a commission I did some time ago. I thought I'd lost these photos when my old desktop computer died, but after some sleuthing I managed to find them. Thanks Judy!

'Into the Blue I'

'Into the Blue II and III'

Lends a whole new meaning to 'feeling blue', doesn't it?

Harry, A Different Kind of Potter

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

The hostess for the day plans a super secret getaway for the rest of us each month. We plug in the postcode into our Sat Nav and just see where it takes us. So far no one has given me the postcode to drive off a cliff. Ah, such good friends (so far)...

So you can imagine my delight (and relief) when we drove up to quaint Grayshott Pottery in Hindhead, Surrey

This is what it would have looked like on a clear summer day
[source: Grayshott Pottery]

Founded in 1956, this location produces commercial and handmade stoneware for well-known establishments such as Harrods, a Jamie Oliver restaurant, and Cafe Rouge to name a few. And anytime I can use the word 'bespoke' (custom) I will, so here we go - they make 'bespoke' items too. With in-house designers and artists, anything is possible in this tucked away location where the magic happens... 

I'll let the photos do the talking, because I really have no idea what I am talking about

The Handmade Section

The Commercial Side

Molds

Making A Bowl

'Pressing' Casserole Pans in Blue Machine

'Sponging' A Plate Before Being Glazed

Glazing By Hand

Loaded Firing Rack Is Pushed On A Track

Apologizes for my signage fetish

They were making rustic-looking stoneware while we were there. Loved it all. And the 'pottery elves' (my words, not theirs) work many machines, so they don't get bored. It was surprisingly dust free.

As friend Miss K pointed out, most places of interest in England have a gift shop and restaurant attached (with tea, of course) to make the day really happy.  Grayshott Pottery was no exception :)

And what did I buy in the pottery gift shop? A really cool iron nutcracker that looked like an antique vise, of course :) 

How long had that treasure been waiting to be noticed?

More information: Grayshott Pottery