bits + pieces >>>

i got asked for a few more photos of my set up for the open house i hosted... so here they are! i'm still fighting illness and exhuastion.... we're away for a couple of days for the mr's grandmas' funeral tomorrow and wednesday. then my mum is coming to stay for a few days - here's to feeling better soon!

♥♥ stay in touch! ♥♥ follow this blog ♥♥ twitter ♥♥ facebook ♥♥ shop ♥♥

spare us a vote??

blessed >>>>

1. our new guinea pig - mr harry upton {!} 2. christmas party fun
2 + 3 love my kiddos

 4+ 5 snail mail love from a beautiful friend

7 + 8 amazing russian doll gifted from another friend
9.  sweet note and gift from my eldest 10. blog love

it's been a tough week, stress, illness, death. then there are the reminders of just how blessed i am. a beautiful family, girlies who never fail to make me smile, and reminders of just what amazing friends i have made. one of the biggest joys this blog has brought me is the wonderful friends that i have made. ♥ you all xox

♥♥ stay in touch! ♥♥ follow this blog ♥♥ twitter ♥♥ facebook ♥♥ shop ♥♥

spare us a vote??

pretty things >>>>

one // two // three // four // five // six

we're off to a home ed christmas party today!! fun :D have a good day x

♥♥ stay in touch! ♥♥ follow this blog ♥♥ twitter ♥♥ facebook ♥♥ shop ♥♥

spare us a vote??

looking festive >>>>

this little santa used to be my mums. it was up every year in my house since before i was born - i was so excited when she passed it on to me. he's about 35 and still plays 'we wish you a merry christmas' when you push the top of the candy cane

finally got our tree up!! the kiddos and i had a blast decorating it. we listened to my charlie brown christmas vinyl and drank some hot chocolates whilst we were decorating it! now our house looks as festive as we are all feeling.

i'm still feeling a little sick... turns out i have a chest infection. i'm trying to follow doctors orders and get plenty of rest - easier said than done though!! top that with the mr's grandma dying this week, and it's not the best. we're all going to miss her terribly. she was an amazing woman and we're all mourning her loss.

♥♥ stay in touch! ♥♥ follow this blog ♥♥ twitter ♥♥ facebook ♥♥ shop ♥♥

spare us a vote??

holiday deals >>>>

♥♥ stay in touch! ♥♥ follow this blog ♥♥ twitter ♥♥ facebook ♥♥ shop ♥♥

spare us a vote??

what mama wore // lace and owls >>>>

my husband laughed when i opened up this lace vest... because i have so many tops similar already! obviously i have a slight obsession... but honestly, i love a lacey top, they are perfect to layer over t-shirts and add a little girlieness to an outfit. lace and fringing - who could resist that?!

my fringe is finally growing out from the super short cut i gave it.. i haven't decided whether i'm growing it out entirely or not... what do you think? lets do a vote - leave me a comment - fringe or no fringe?

the weather has gotten so cold now, these wool leggings are perfect to keep my legs warm, it's the time of year to be snuggled up in front of a fire, blanket on, hot chocolate in hand, and some good tunes spinning on the deck.

we finally got our christmas decorations up! i'll be back tomorrow to share some photos - feeling so festive now!!

= outfit details =

vest - oasap.com

t-shirt - thrifted

skirt - new look

leggings - thrifted

boots - ebay

♥♥ stay in touch! ♥♥ follow this blog ♥♥ twitter ♥♥ facebook ♥♥ shop ♥♥

spare us a vote??

cherry buttermilk cake >>>>

cherry cake is one of my guilty pleasures. since the kiddos don't really like it, i tend not to make it often {if i do, i end up eating the whole thing!} however, last week, i came across a jar of pitted cherries in the cupboard i'd forgotten about, so i decided to make myself a yummy cake {plus we had family visiting the next day, so i figured they'd help me eat it!} i had an idea that buttermilk would make it extra moist, so i figured i'd experiment. it turned out amazingly! so moist and light and tasty. i opted for almond extract {cherries and almonds = heaven}, our visitors loved it and i could have eaten nothing else for days ;)

you'll need:

125g plain flour

250ml buttermilk {i made my own with soy milk and a splash of lemon juice}

125g butter

75g castor sugar

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp bicarb of soda

¼ tsp salt

150g pitted cherries

1 egg

1 ½ tsp vanilla or almond extract

beat butter and sugar together. When fluffy add in the egg and vanilla.

Mix in the flour, baking powder, bicarb and salt, alternating spoonfuls with spoonfuls of buttermilk.

pour into greased cake pan {9”} and scatter cherries on top, sprinkle with a little sugar

bake at 400/ /gas mark  for around 30 minutes.

♥♥ stay in touch! ♥♥ follow this blog ♥♥ twitter ♥♥ facebook ♥♥ shop ♥♥

spare us a vote??

christmas is coming >>>>

we'd planned to put our christmas decorations up this weekend. i woke up on saturday feeling awful. sore throat, migraine, achey body... exhausted. combination of a couple of months stress, not looking after myself, etc. i managed to get miss lola to her shopping party (!) and home again, then the kiddos let me have a two hour nap. thankfully sunday came and i felt a little better. we decided to get out sunday and headed up to a local christmas market. the kiddos saw santa, and real life reindeer!! it was pretty sweet. hopefully we'll get our decorations up today or tomorrow, then i'll be sure to share some pictures on here!! 

hope you all had a good weekend - have you got your decorations up yet?

1. santa 2. reindeer nose! 3.hot mulled cider for mama 4. reindeer :)

♥♥ stay in touch! ♥♥ follow this blog ♥♥ twitter ♥♥ facebook ♥♥ shop ♥♥

spare us a vote??