• Brickheadz Belle figure
    homestyle - Lego - Monday Happy List - Orla Kiely - sewing

    Monday Happy List {Week 128}

    March 13, 2017 - By 

    This week has been a bit hit and miss. I’ve been busy planning for my son’s birthday which is on Saturday. He’s turning 7 which is kinda shocking as I remember the day he was born as if it was yesterday. We’re having a low key day with some of his friends coming over, then taking him out for dinner. Currently there’s a huge pile of presents to be wrapped in the corner of my bedroom – I’m not quite sure how he hasn’t guessed what’s hiding under the Spiderman blanket! Every week I try and write a post about…

  • outdoor adventures
    mindfulness - Monday Happy List - Orla Kiely

    Monday Happy List {Week 126}

    February 27, 2017 - By 

    It’s been a strange old week. The children only had 4 days at school thanks to an Inset Day but they’ve both been quite tired and grumpy getting back into the school routine. Today my 6 year old asked when the Summer holidays were going to start. I didn’t want to break it to him that he still had a good few weeks months of school left. Monday Happy List {Week 126} Although we finished the new kitchen a few months ago we had half an idea about putting wallpaper up on one wall. We finally chose a pattern we…

  • Spring flowers
    mindfulness - Monday Happy List - Orla Kiely

    Monday happy things {week 125}

    February 20, 2017 - By 

    Good morning everyone! Monday again but my children have an Inset Day today so we’re very thankful that half term is lasting an extra day! Time for my weekly Monday happy things post, re-visiting the things that have made me happy in the previous week. Monday happy things {week 125} As it was half term we went away and visited the parentals. This involved quite a lot of driving and some extremes of weather. We started off with snow and freezing temperatures, ending the week with warm sunshine, finally able to shred the layers of coats, hats and gloves. You’ve…

  • Upcycled Orla Kiely flower vase tutorial
    crafts - homestyle - Orla Kiely

    Upcycled Orla Kiely flower vase tutorial

    January 26, 2017 - By 

    I’m a bit of a hoarder and this applies to envelopes, boxes and tissue paper – pretty much any packaging which comes through my letter box. I  had some gorgeous Orla Kiely tissue paper in my stash and came up with the simplest upcycle. I used: Orla Kiely tissue paper Mod Podge Glass flower jar Upcycled Orla Kiely flower vase tutorial: I cut my tissue paper to fit around my glass jar. Then I used Mod Podge painted directly to the glass jar. I carefully applied my tissue paper and left it to dry. I’ve already filled my glass jar…

  • London Model Engineering Exhibition at Ally Pally
    Lego - Monday Happy List - Orla Kiely

    Monday happy things – week 121

    January 23, 2017 - By 

    Hope you all had a great weekend. Ours was filled with parties and swimming lessons as usual. Every Monday I write a post about the five things which have made me happy in the previous week – imaginatively titled Monday happy things. My son was off sick most of last week with chicken pox. He is pretty good company and I enjoyed spending time with him. When he was feeling a little better we managed to get out and he found a huge Chewbacca figure in a charity shop. He was so excited to add it to his Star Wars…

  • painting with Annie Sloan
    crafts - homestyle - Orla Kiely - upcycling

    Orla Kiely inspired stool

    October 14, 2016 - By 

    I’ve been needing to inject a bit more colour into our living room. I had some Orla Kiely wrapping paper left over and thought it would be perfect for updating our little stool. A while ago I painted it with a Miffy face but it’s been looking a little sad, definitely in need of some TLC. I gathered my supplies: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Emperor’s Silk and a paint brush. I love using Chalk Paints as you don’t need to do any prep! I simply covered the legs and underneath of the stool in two coats of paint and…

  • Orla Kiely Multi Striped Petal wallpaper
    homestyle - interiors - Orla Kiely

    Updating our home {Orla Kiely wallpaper}

    August 27, 2016 - By 

    I find it hard to believe how long we’ve lived in our house. It’s definitely not our forever home but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to create a happy home environment. In the past 3 years we’ve decorated all our bedrooms, the hall and stairs and are just finishing off re-tiling the downstairs bathroom. I’m the first to admit I really hate decorating. I love the idea of freshly painted ceilings, new wallpaper and furnishings. But in reality I hate the mess and upheaval and would put it off for ever if I could. In a bid to fall…

  • Orla Kiely designed kitchen bin
    homestyle - Orla Kiely

    Orla Kiely in the kitchen

    August 16, 2016 - By 

    I was shopping this morning, managing to tick off more of my Back to School shopping list. I couldn’t help but look round the homeware department and found a few lovely Orla Kiely displays. Our kitchen makeover is taking a lot of our free time. We are in desperate need of more storage and are hoping to move around a few of our white goods and squeeze in some extra cupboards. We’re having another consultation tomorrow and I’m beginning to feel excited about sorting this room out. We’ve spent so long discussing it that I couldn’t help but start to…

  • Lego birthday party
    days out - Lego - London - mindfulness - Monday Happy List - Orla Kiely

    Monday Happy List – Week 99

    August 15, 2016 - By 

    I’m really enjoying the summer holidays. I’m not sure if it’s because the children are a little bit older or that we’ve not had a moment to be bored. I struggled to make a short list for my weekly Monday Happy List post, we’re just too busy at the moment! However, if I have to choose my 5 favourite things over the last week they would be as follows: My 6 year old was invited to an amazing Lego birthday party at the start of the week. It was well organised with 3 different Lego challenges. My son is Lego…