*****My first give-away!*****

I'm having a give-away to celebrate getting 50 followers... well, now actually 60! So we'll celebrate that number instead!

Hello to all my new followers, lovely to have you here.    :-)

It's such a nice feeling knowing that people do actually like to read my blog, I've well and truly caught the blogging bug and love it!

The giveaway goodies include:

* Cath Kidston needle case

* Cath Kidston tissues

* Cath Kidston make-up case (you could use it for anything though!)

* A brooch that I made from one of my Mollie Makes flowers.

* A string of granny bunting that I made

*A pretty purse from Accessorize

To enter you must:

* Be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post.

* If you blog about this giveaway on your own blog, let me know and I'll enter you twice for the giveaway.

* Feel free to enter even if you live outside of the UK.

* The giveaway will finish at 9pm on the 9th of August 2011.

Good luck!

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Cute baby accessories!

I follow a really great blog called Maybe Matilda and you can visit Rachel here.

She's got some brilliant tutorials on there and I wanted to try out the knotted crochet headband, I used a small bit of dusky pink Debbie Bliss - Andes yarn and whipped it up in less than an hour whilst watching a film one evening. It's a wonderfully simple idea, I just wouldn't think of doing it myself.

Here is her tutorial on how to make it. I think it looks very cute... but Ray's reaction was 'What is that on her head!? She looks like she's out of Flashdance.' Not Quite the look I was going for...

I had a wander into town today and popped into Next as I remembered that their sale was on but I think I was quite late as everything that was left was either a size 6 or a size 20! So as I'm neither of those, I didn't find anything for myself but I did find this extremely cute pair of shoes for Rose. A bargain at £3! Cute eh!?

I'm annoyed at myself for not making the most of the sunshine today, I spent most of indoors. Rose was napping in the morning when we could have gone out, then had Sainsbury's being delivered 12-1pm and then she had another nap in the afternoon... I spose I could have woken her up to go out somewhere but she was being particularly grumpy, so I didn't really fancy risking it. Hopefully it'll be sunny tomorrow and we can get out to enjoy it.

I spent some time whilst she was napping updating my flickr and ravelry. I'm beginning to fill in all of my finished projects on ravelry, it's quite satisfying seeing all of the finished objects all displayed together. I didn't realise how much stuff you can actually do on there, I've only ever really used it for browsing different patterns before.

Okay, I'm off to go and finish my giveaway project and then hopefully I can do the post tomorrow.

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Nearly there...

I've been busy getting thing's together for my give-away and I'm almost finished..

I'm making something to go along with the other give-away goodies and I'm almost finished with it, just some blocking to do tonight and then I'll finish it off tomorrow and then hopefully I'll get my give-away post written and then you can all decide if you want to enter..!

I've been given a Gorgeous book by my auntie called 'Cute knits for baby feet'.

It's an amazing book and is completely chocca-block with gorgeous patterns for baby-to-toddler sized socks and bootee's. The only problem is I've never knitted with DPN's before and so I'm struggling to really get anywhere! I've only knitted a few rows on DPN's when my auntie was knitting some fingerless gloves with them, but I'm finding it really hard to join the first row together after casting on. It just seems to twist and not connect properly as I knit row after row... ahhh well, I'll just have to keep persevering! I'm not feeling too hopeful though..

I'm not feeling brilliant tonight though, Ray has brought some kind of cold virus home with him from work a couple of day's ago and we've both steadily been getting more bunged up and snivelly (if that's even a word!). We had a lovely Christening to go to today but I had to go to bed for an hour when we got back as it had completely wiped me out! So I'm going to curl up on the sofa this evening under a blanket, with a box of tissues and keep attempting these socks! Wish me luck!

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Another thing to tick off the list.. and a first time to the beach!

I've had so many different projects on the go for some time now and I just kind of got to the point where I wanted to feel the satisfaction of getting some things finished again. I started with the baby shrug for Rose that I finished the other day, I lovvvee it and am so glad I made the effort to finish it off.

I then decided that I would finish making my patchwork cushion cover that I began sewing over a year ago! I got the idea to do it from my Cath Kidston 'SEW' book and I've had the half sewn together hexagons stashed away with all my other crafty bit and bobs for ages. I got them out a few day's ago and have been speedily connecting all the hexagons together, the materials are all by CK and it's now in pride of place on my sofa! Sorry the picture's a bit crummy.. It was miserable and raining outside so there wasn't much natural light.

We've had a lovely couple of day's here.. it's been Sunny!! Shock horror!

Rose had her first visit to the beach. :-) It was gorgeous weather so thought it would be a great opportunity to head to the beach... time for me to brave it in a bikini! :S Those poor people on the beach, having to look at my pale body! Not to mention the last time I wore a bikini, the skin on my belly was a whole lot less wobbly!

I'm not sure why but the photo's make it look like it was a dull and miserable day... It looks more like I'm a crazy lady wearing a bikini in winter! I thought she's hate the cold water but she didn't seem at all fussed, she even sat down in it.. and smiled!

I've been given the Kreative blogger award by the lovely Nelly at Nelly's Eggs, I was having a bit of a tough morning with a cranky Rose at the time, so it was a great pick me up! I've done it once before, but I'll try and think of some more facts about myself...

1) I lovvvee musicals. When I was living in London Ray and I went to the West End to see many musicals. My favourites so far have been Les Miserables and Sister Act, I've loved the Sister Act films since I was a kid but I wasn't sure if the musical would be good or not, but it was amazzingg. I came out of the theatre that night on complete high!

2) I'm allergic to black rubber. I know, sounds really dodgy doesn't it!? But it's really not very interesting.. my feet come up in blisters when I wear some kinds of shoes, usually flip-flops.

3) I had a home birth with Rose and it was the best decision I ever made. I was incredibly lucky that everything went to plan and I was able to have her in my 'Birth pool in a box' from Ebay! Although it was a Little strange having a huge blue swimming pool-like thing in our front room for the week before I had her!

4) I suck at growing my own vegetables. Flowers are alright... most of them stay alive once I own them, but vegetables... well my runner beans produce about 2 runner beans a month! And my lettuces are munched all the way down to stumps by slugs and snail, even though I've put down slug pellets. I don't know how they get to them!

5) Ummmm... well, I can't think of anything else right now I'm afraid.

I'm going to pass on this award to Sarah at ShabbyChicSarah at Gem at Treasures from the cherry tree.

I know that both these lovely ladies have received the award already, so don't expect them to do the questions.. but I wanted to give it to a couple of blogs that I'm really enjoying reading at the moment.

Right, I'm off to bed now as we have another busy day tomorrow. We have a christening to go to, we've all been asked to bring a dish and I've made a pasta salad called 'Deli Pasta salad' and surprisingly... I'm very happy at how it turned out!

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Ta-dahhh! Rose's shrug all finished..!

Well..! Here it is..!

I've been busy knitting a shrug style cardigan for Rose and I have to say, I absolutely love it! The pattern is from one of my Debbie Bliss knitting pattern books, called 'Simply Baby'. I used some of her Baby Cashmerino wool in this really sweet minty green colour. It was nice to not knit it in really really girly colours, I think it'll suit her very nicely..! Although she won't be able to wear it for a little while yet as it's in size 12-18 months, I did put it on her but it completely swamped her and did look a bit silly!

I added a flower as a corsage that I crocheted from the most recent Mollie Makes magazine, I think it really makes the cardigan. Before I added it, I think it looked a little bare and plain. But it looks much prettier with the flower now, the colours from the flower make it a bit more interesting to look at.

It was relatively easy to knit, the only part that I got stuck on was when I had to pick up the stitches to create the ribbed edging. I'm sure I have had to do it before but for some reason, I just couldn't figure it out this time.. so I got a helping hand from my Auntie Lettie @ Poppy Cottage when I was back in Dorset. It was knitted in one piece on a circular needles and I have to say, it was Sooo lovely not to have to sew together countless seams this time! :-)

So what do you all think..?! Do you like..?

I just want to say Hello to my most recent followers! :-) Thanks for coming to visit me here.. when i first started writing this blog, I really didn't think anyone would be very interested in what I had to say! But now it feels like a little online community and every time I get a new comment, I do get a bit excited. Is that completely sad of me?!

But I've now reached 50 followers.. actually 53! And I'd like to do a giveaway to celebrate but I really have no idea where to start. Sooo, do I buy some lovely items and then pop them on my blog and offer them up as a giveaway..? What are the rules with it? Basically, I'm blabbering away now, so if any one can explain to me where i start.. I'd be very grateful! :-) Thanks!

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Squeezing in some crochet time!

Well, isn't the weather just lovely..!?! As I type this, the rain is pelting against the french doors beside me and making a complete racket... even though I would LOVE some sunshine, there is something quite calm and peaceful about feeling all cosy inside in the warm of my house. I can't help but find myself thinking of all the people out there that the don't have somewhere to go though, it does make you feel very lucky to have a home on day's like this.

Yesterday Rose and I had a very lazzzyyy day... Well, I did get quite a bit done around the house and got a batch of baby food made for her amongst other things. But then somehow found myself watching not one, but Two of the Harry Potter films..! I felt guilty about spending so much time sitting on my bum, but then again I did manage to finish Rose's cardigan! I'm beyond chuffed with it, I didn't realise how much I  loved it until I sewed all the seams together and added a crochet corsage to the front. I want to put her in it now! But this time I've gone and done the opposite thing and I've made the 12-18 months size (just in case) and now she won't be able to wear it for quite a few months. At least I've got it to look forward to putting her in it though. :-)

I think we deserved a lazy day not doing much really, plus the weather was of course awful, so there really wasn't much making me want to leave the house.. Rose and I did have a very busy Saturday though..I was helping out at our local NCT nearly new sale. If you help out it means that you get first pick of all the things on sale before the public come in, so I've managed to bag myself quite a few bargains! Well.. the clothes were for Rose really! I managed to get a brand new stair gate for a fiver! But it is a very long day when you've got a baby with you (Ray was working, so I had to take her with me) but she was very well behaved and had two quite long naps whilst we were there.

On Friday I made the most of the sunshine though and spent pretty much the Whole day in the garden! I got quite a bit of gardening done, but of course.. I had to make some time for sitting down, soaking up the ray's and doing a spot of crochet!

The flowers are from the most recent issue of Mollie Makes, they really were very simple to make and look so so pretty. I've used one of the flowers for the corsage on the cardigan I've knitted for Rose.

And here's her enjoying the sunshine beside me..! She does look slightly ridiculous in the huggggee hat! haha

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Dorset memories

I thought I would post a few of the photo's from last weeks trip to Dorset..

I think it's so lovely that in years to come, I will be able to look back at this blog and remember all of the special memories from when I originally wrote these blog posts.

This is my Great-Grandad Dooks, Rose's Great-Great Grandad. Every photo of him holding Rose is so precious as he's now 88 years old! Although, he's still extremely active for his age.. it's very impressive!

It was lovely to see some other family members of mine, I don't think I realise how much I miss them until I'm back there with them.. Rose seems so much bigger to me everyday, so to everyone else she must look completely huge after not seeing her for a few weeks.

We went back for a walk up Golden cap, Ray and I have been going for walks up there for quite a while. I'm not entirely sure how I drew the short straw, as I ended up being the one carrying her Up the hugggee hill! I felt exhausted by the end of it! But the view made it worth while..

Rose travelled back down the hill on her Daddy's back.. he had the much easier job of going downhill! I've not been very strict with myself on Slimming World, so I probably needed the extra exercise to be honest!

Yet again I couldn't resist starting a new project. Big surprise there!

It's a baby shrug for Rose, but this time I'm knitting it in the 12-18 month size. So at least after spending all the time knitting it, she'll actually be able to wear the thing!! I've just got to do the ribbed edging for it now.. I had no idea how to pick up the stitches from around the edges, so I was at a bit of a stand still until my auntie showed me what to do.. Thank you Lettie!

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The secret garden

Well it's been pretty hectic around here lately..

We went to Dorset to stay with family for a few day's which was lovely, Ray and I got to spend some quality time together with Rose.

 I've had friends come to stay here and I went out properly for the first time since I had Rose... OUCH! My head hurt soooo badly the next morning! I'd been out for a drink with a friend the week before but didn't stay out very late. Somehow I don't think I'll be going out again for a good while yet! I prefer the quiet night's in these day's.. especially when Rose is waking up at 5am!

We came across some gorgeous gardens just up the road from us the other day.. they weren't very well advertised which is why we haven't been before but they were completely free to walk around and were so beautiful. I think we came across a bit of a hidden treasure! :-)

Rose and I taking in the view...

There were huge beds full of lavender, the scent coming off of them was amazing.

It was lovely to have a day out as a family in the sun. Ray's shifts are all so over the place that we seem to be so unlucky and whenever we've got a free day, it's been miserable and such rainy weather.

Can you see the two special people in the background..?!

 I really love taking photograph's of flowers, I find that the close up shots really show off all of the intricate details and the beautiful colours. I lovvveee these orange flowers, I have no idea what they are but wouldn't mind some myself..!

And of course Rose enjoyed herself too..! This was taken after a major nappy incident, it was a bit of a close call... why do they always seem to time it for when they're wearing lovely WHITE clothes!? Luckily we got away with it.. which is lucky, as I had completely forgotten to take a change of clothes for her out with us that day! oops!

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Catching up...

I've sat down so many times to begin writing this post but things keep happening that distract me or take me away from the laptop, so this post has stayed as just some pictures with not very many words for quite some time. It's been in the back of my mind that I need to get on here and finish writing a post, but it just hasn't been possible! I suppose that's just what happens when you've got a 5 month old baby to tend to!

I try not to get frustrated at not being able to sit down and get a post written, but this blogging lark is supposed to just be for fun and so I tell myself to not feel like I'm being rubbish at it when I haven't posted for a while. Truthfully I probably do have enough time to get it done if I just got my head together and just 'got on with it'! But when I have any time on the laptop I just get distracted by other lovely blogs, or just other websites in general..!

The other day we had a brief visit from my Nan and Grandad when they came to visit for an afternoon. We went for a canal boat ride (their idea, not ours..!), it was lovely but as Ray and I have both cycled along the canal, I think it would have been a little more exciting if we didnt know the area so well.. But it was lovely to spend the time with them as they are a 2 hour drive away. The views were gorgeous though, so I took a few pics throughout the afternoon..

We're off to Dorset to stay with them for a few day's tomorrow which will be great.. even though the weather is supposed to be awful... It's been so lovely and sunny, but then as soon as it's Ray's annual leave, the rain comes back! So unlucky... we'll just have to come up with some day's out and things to do that are Inside instead!

Rose has started to roll over from her back to her front! I've been waiting for it for a while, I know your not supposed to rush things along with them.. But all of my NCT friends with babies the same age have been saying how their babies were all doing it and I didn't mean to compare at all, but I was getting a little curious as to when she'd figure out how to do it herself..! She looked so funny when I caught her doing it and she had her arm caught underneath her, she just looked at me as if to say 'Well..!? What do I do now then??'.

We went for a lovely walk the day before yesterday, Ray's been on nights yet again so we thought we'd make the most of getting out in the afternoon before he had to go back. We've been living here for almost a year now and I didn't realise that there was this lovely walk just up the road from us.. it's lovely and flat, so perfect for when we get a baby seat for my bike and can go for a nice bike ride. :-)

My Country Home & Interiors magazine plopped through my letter box onto the door mat today and I did get quite ridiculously excited about it.. I tore it open and whizzed through all the photo's before starting reading it properly from the beginning.. I'm just far too impatient for my own good! There is a section in there about a couple that have a 'Prairie Garden' and oh my gosh, the garden is Beautiful! It's simply stunning and completely my kind of garden. There are so so many plants that I'd love to have in my own little garden.There's just the small problem of there just not being enough space!!

Won't be back for a few day's now as we'll be staying in a house with no internet!! What will we do!? But will attempt to catch up with all my blogging when we return...

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