Clarke & Clarke Birds 16 x 16 - £7.50
Red & Blue Flowers 16 x 16 - £6.99
Laura Ashley Pink & White Gingham 16 x 16 - £7.99
All have cream envelope style reverse
Seams have been over locked to prevent fraying
Free Post & Packing
Monday 21 January 2013
Cushion Covers for Sale - New Range
My latest range of cushions available, please see my shop for my full range
Clarke & Clarke Birds 16 x 16 - £7.50
Red & Blue Flowers 16 x 16 - £6.99
Laura Ashley Pink & White Gingham 16 x 16 - £7.99
All have cream envelope style reverse
Seams have been over locked to prevent fraying
Free Post & Packing
Clarke & Clarke Birds 16 x 16 - £7.50
Red & Blue Flowers 16 x 16 - £6.99
Laura Ashley Pink & White Gingham 16 x 16 - £7.99
All have cream envelope style reverse
Seams have been over locked to prevent fraying
Free Post & Packing
Tuesday 15 January 2013
School Applications - D Day
If someone had said to me before I had children that I would have endless sleepless nights over choosing my child's primary school place I would have said they were mad. After all they are pretty much the same aren't they? They all follow the same guidelines, work from the same curriculum.
Its only geographical differences surely that make the difference from a failing school to a great school, isn't it? After all if you have disadvantaged children, *with parents who don't really care, then the school can only do so much, right? (*sorry, sorry, I was very ignorant at times)
What a shock I was in for!
As soon as I got pregnant I started obsessing about schools and when I just had the one child I was pretty sure I would be sending her to private school (number two daughter put paid to that idea though). Why private? Mainly results but not only do they excel in Sats/GCSE's/A'Levels but they actively encourage children to be competitive and goal orientated which in my humble opinion helps them to succeed later in life. Children have to realise that to get ahead in life they have to work hard for it and I would be devastated if my girls succumbed to the Jeremy Kyle generation.
Anyhow Private has gone out the window so my local primaries will have to do.... (joke)
First thing I did was ask around a bit, and the funny thing I discovered is that every parent thinks their school is THE BEST! EVER! regardless of ofstead, sats, locality etc etc... So I promptly disregarded peoples opinions
I then researched like a demented person (really I went like some obsessive nutter) I looked at Ofstead, sats, local council information, intakes, Googled the schools, Googled the head teachers, read all their newsletters, dissected their websites (I did stop short of following any teachers home). I even (I can't believe I am admitting this) yes I even checked birth rates for the year Amelia was born to see what our chances were for the over subscribed schools ( I told you I went BONKERS).
Eventually I narrowed it down to 4 schools, we looked around them and I was the annoying one who asked a million and one questions. Again funnily enough, I discovered from talking to other mums, that a head who I thought was fantastic, they didn't like and vice versa. Its obviously a very personal thing choosing schools.
We narrowed it down to the three but then of course you have to put them in order of preference and this is probably what surprised me the most. Two of the schools are very results driven and disciplined, whilst the third school felt.. well.. warm and fuzzy, nurturing... they even had chickens and an allotment for the children to look after. Not the sort of school I thought I would even consider but I really liked it and in all fairness their sats results were not much different than the other two schools. It's such a hard decision to make, do you go for the outstanding school that will push your child or the nurturing school that cares the utmost for child's well being?
Today is D Day and I have submitted my choices but I do have a niggling doubt that I haven't chosen right, that I may have chosen the right school on paper but maybe not the right school for my child, not even just Amelia but I also have to think about Isobel as well. Someone said to me, go with my gut but in reality my gut feeling school is in third place, so what does that say??
But if I changed my choices would I be happy then? No probably not...
And then we may not even get the school of our choice as they are oversubscribed... Argh
See.... I am going demented!!
I know I am in the fortunate position that all three of my local school choices are good schools and regardless of which school she gets into, I will be pleased (unless she doesn't get into any of them.... then, Panic). So I do thank my lucky stars and I feel for those that do not have good local schools.
Now its just a waiting game, roll on the 16th April when I will get put out of my misery.
Its only geographical differences surely that make the difference from a failing school to a great school, isn't it? After all if you have disadvantaged children, *with parents who don't really care, then the school can only do so much, right? (*sorry, sorry, I was very ignorant at times)
What a shock I was in for!
As soon as I got pregnant I started obsessing about schools and when I just had the one child I was pretty sure I would be sending her to private school (number two daughter put paid to that idea though). Why private? Mainly results but not only do they excel in Sats/GCSE's/A'Levels but they actively encourage children to be competitive and goal orientated which in my humble opinion helps them to succeed later in life. Children have to realise that to get ahead in life they have to work hard for it and I would be devastated if my girls succumbed to the Jeremy Kyle generation.
Anyhow Private has gone out the window so my local primaries will have to do.... (joke)
First thing I did was ask around a bit, and the funny thing I discovered is that every parent thinks their school is THE BEST! EVER! regardless of ofstead, sats, locality etc etc... So I promptly disregarded peoples opinions
I then researched like a demented person (really I went like some obsessive nutter) I looked at Ofstead, sats, local council information, intakes, Googled the schools, Googled the head teachers, read all their newsletters, dissected their websites (I did stop short of following any teachers home). I even (I can't believe I am admitting this) yes I even checked birth rates for the year Amelia was born to see what our chances were for the over subscribed schools ( I told you I went BONKERS).
Eventually I narrowed it down to 4 schools, we looked around them and I was the annoying one who asked a million and one questions. Again funnily enough, I discovered from talking to other mums, that a head who I thought was fantastic, they didn't like and vice versa. Its obviously a very personal thing choosing schools.
We narrowed it down to the three but then of course you have to put them in order of preference and this is probably what surprised me the most. Two of the schools are very results driven and disciplined, whilst the third school felt.. well.. warm and fuzzy, nurturing... they even had chickens and an allotment for the children to look after. Not the sort of school I thought I would even consider but I really liked it and in all fairness their sats results were not much different than the other two schools. It's such a hard decision to make, do you go for the outstanding school that will push your child or the nurturing school that cares the utmost for child's well being?
Today is D Day and I have submitted my choices but I do have a niggling doubt that I haven't chosen right, that I may have chosen the right school on paper but maybe not the right school for my child, not even just Amelia but I also have to think about Isobel as well. Someone said to me, go with my gut but in reality my gut feeling school is in third place, so what does that say??
But if I changed my choices would I be happy then? No probably not...
And then we may not even get the school of our choice as they are oversubscribed... Argh
See.... I am going demented!!
I know I am in the fortunate position that all three of my local school choices are good schools and regardless of which school she gets into, I will be pleased (unless she doesn't get into any of them.... then, Panic). So I do thank my lucky stars and I feel for those that do not have good local schools.
Now its just a waiting game, roll on the 16th April when I will get put out of my misery.
Laura Ashley Josette Floral Cushion Cover For Sale
Hand made 16 x 16 inch cushion covers in beautiful Laura Ashley Josette Floral Linen Mix fabric with a cream fabric envelope back
Seams are over locked to prevent fraying
I operate a 14 day returns policy
This is for the cushion cover only
£9.99 (free p&p)
Seams are over locked to prevent fraying
I operate a 14 day returns policy
This is for the cushion cover only
£9.99 (free p&p)
Monday 14 January 2013
My Kitchen Table
I seem to have gone renovation crazy and anyone who follows me on Twitter will no doubt have read my moans about all the painting I was doing in the autumn.
Well I am pleased to say that the majority of the painting is done (just the girls rooms left) and after I completed my chalkboard wall I was feeling brave and eager to start my next project. Thanks to Pintrest (who I am blaming entirely), I have discovered that I love, love, love the French Country look and everywhere I seemed to turn there were the renovated kitchen tables. Again (as I do) I assumed it can't be that hard to sand and paint a table, can it??
I wanted a table that extends but I also wanted something really cheap (in case I did bugger it up and then I hadn't really lost out). Luckily I found a real bargain on eBay, extending solid wood table only 10 miles from where I live and I won it for a tenner! Bargain! (unfortunately though I cannot find the before picture I took, gutted)
So we set to work on it immediately. My fabulous husband very kindly stripped it all down, cleaned it, oiled the mechanisms and he even sanded it for me.
I then varnished the top in Ronseal Diamond Hard Varnish in mahogany, it needed three coats and the reason I went with varnish instead of wax was that I thought it would give a tougher surface but in reality it seems to scratch easily so I am going to have to wax it as well.
The legs I then painted in Farrow and Ball, I don't know what I was expecting from the paint but my first initial thoughts were slightly disappointed, it needed three coats and then seemed to mark when touched but now I have to say I love it, it looks great.
The table itself won't be staying long term as its not quite chunky enough but as a temporary measure and also as my first attempt at anything like this I am delighted with the results.
The chairs are next on my list and Amelia has requested that hers be done in pink and not white, as girls like pink apparently.
Well I am pleased to say that the majority of the painting is done (just the girls rooms left) and after I completed my chalkboard wall I was feeling brave and eager to start my next project. Thanks to Pintrest (who I am blaming entirely), I have discovered that I love, love, love the French Country look and everywhere I seemed to turn there were the renovated kitchen tables. Again (as I do) I assumed it can't be that hard to sand and paint a table, can it??
I wanted a table that extends but I also wanted something really cheap (in case I did bugger it up and then I hadn't really lost out). Luckily I found a real bargain on eBay, extending solid wood table only 10 miles from where I live and I won it for a tenner! Bargain! (unfortunately though I cannot find the before picture I took, gutted)
So we set to work on it immediately. My fabulous husband very kindly stripped it all down, cleaned it, oiled the mechanisms and he even sanded it for me.
I then varnished the top in Ronseal Diamond Hard Varnish in mahogany, it needed three coats and the reason I went with varnish instead of wax was that I thought it would give a tougher surface but in reality it seems to scratch easily so I am going to have to wax it as well.
The legs I then painted in Farrow and Ball, I don't know what I was expecting from the paint but my first initial thoughts were slightly disappointed, it needed three coats and then seemed to mark when touched but now I have to say I love it, it looks great.
The table itself won't be staying long term as its not quite chunky enough but as a temporary measure and also as my first attempt at anything like this I am delighted with the results.
The chairs are next on my list and Amelia has requested that hers be done in pink and not white, as girls like pink apparently.
Saturday 12 January 2013
Pushy Parent...... Moi???
Do I think I'm a pushy parent? That was a question someone asked me this week, (albeit after I joked about preparing my 3 year old for an Olympic gold for gymnastics in 2024)
But it was a serious question which I laughed off, no... Absolutely not... No... Am I?
I then shifted a bit uncomfortably and changed the subject.
So the question is am I pushy parent?
My girls are 2 & 3 and they both go to ballet, gymnastics and swimming every week.
I proactively encourage their written, verbal and numerical skills
They have both attended nursery one day a week since being 20 months old, even though I am a stay at home mum, I think it helps to develop them socially, emotionally and educationally (as well as helping to restore some of my sanity)
I have done a ridiculous amount of research and fretting about choosing the best primary school for Amelia and if I only had one child I would be 100% considering private schools.
I also have a list of activities for them to do when they are old enough.. Rainbows, martial arts, piano lessons... The list is endless
I would like to say that I don't really mind whether they win or are the best at what they do but since Amelia has started shouting winner, winner, chicken dinner. Do I need to say any more!
But I still don't really see it as being pushy, I believe in keeping your kids active, giving them a broad range of activities to keep them entertained and trying to give them the very best start in life.
I know some people think I'm mad running around so much and let's not even think about the cost of it. But I don't think I could be any other way, yes it's exhausting at times, some days I don't want to do it, yes some Saturday mornings I would rather we laze around in our pj's rather than doing two lots of ballet classes but what does that teach my children? We get plenty of lazy days in front of the tv, so I move my ass and hopefully help pave the way for my girls to lead an active and motivated life.
We're my parents pushy? Well this one is much easier to answer and they were the complete opposite from pushy. Not that they weren't interested or supportive, they were but they had no interest in leading the way, which I think resulted in me just drifting through childhood / adolescence and never making those critical career choices that we have to make at such a young age. I really don't want that for my girls and anything I can do, I will do (if that makes sense)
Anyhow I've still not answered my original question... Yes I probably am a tad pushy but I'm hoping when my girls have the title Doctor, Olympian, Principal Ballerina that they will thank me for it or at least still love me :-/
If you are in the Warrington area I cannot recommend Warrington Gymnastics Club and Melody Bear at Revive Dance School highly enough, they are fantastic!
www.warringtongymnastics.co.uk
www.revivedanceschool.com/html/melodybear.html
But it was a serious question which I laughed off, no... Absolutely not... No... Am I?
I then shifted a bit uncomfortably and changed the subject.
So the question is am I pushy parent?
My girls are 2 & 3 and they both go to ballet, gymnastics and swimming every week.
I proactively encourage their written, verbal and numerical skills
They have both attended nursery one day a week since being 20 months old, even though I am a stay at home mum, I think it helps to develop them socially, emotionally and educationally (as well as helping to restore some of my sanity)
I have done a ridiculous amount of research and fretting about choosing the best primary school for Amelia and if I only had one child I would be 100% considering private schools.
I also have a list of activities for them to do when they are old enough.. Rainbows, martial arts, piano lessons... The list is endless
I would like to say that I don't really mind whether they win or are the best at what they do but since Amelia has started shouting winner, winner, chicken dinner. Do I need to say any more!
But I still don't really see it as being pushy, I believe in keeping your kids active, giving them a broad range of activities to keep them entertained and trying to give them the very best start in life.
I know some people think I'm mad running around so much and let's not even think about the cost of it. But I don't think I could be any other way, yes it's exhausting at times, some days I don't want to do it, yes some Saturday mornings I would rather we laze around in our pj's rather than doing two lots of ballet classes but what does that teach my children? We get plenty of lazy days in front of the tv, so I move my ass and hopefully help pave the way for my girls to lead an active and motivated life.
We're my parents pushy? Well this one is much easier to answer and they were the complete opposite from pushy. Not that they weren't interested or supportive, they were but they had no interest in leading the way, which I think resulted in me just drifting through childhood / adolescence and never making those critical career choices that we have to make at such a young age. I really don't want that for my girls and anything I can do, I will do (if that makes sense)
Anyhow I've still not answered my original question... Yes I probably am a tad pushy but I'm hoping when my girls have the title Doctor, Olympian, Principal Ballerina that they will thank me for it or at least still love me :-/
If you are in the Warrington area I cannot recommend Warrington Gymnastics Club and Melody Bear at Revive Dance School highly enough, they are fantastic!
www.warringtongymnastics.co.uk
www.revivedanceschool.com/html/melodybear.html
Friday 11 January 2013
My first real "Project" creating a blackboard wall
We have recently decorated pretty much the whole house and I am now in the process of trying to finish and dress each room, the kitchen being the first room I tackled.
I've seen blackboard walls in magazines and I always think they look great and add a bit of quirkiness to a room. I figured it couldn't be that hard to recreate, as its just paint... but as this is normally my way of thinking (I am definitely glass half full kind of gal) my husband then started with the voice of reason (his glass is half empty and we normally meet in the middle) he kindly reminded me that I said that about painting the kitchen, my words "it won't take long, slap a bit of paint up, a couple of hours and it will be done". The reality it took about 14 hours of hard graft, 3 coats of paint and in all honesty the ceiling could still do with another coat but the sodding kitchen nearly finished me off so it will have to wait. All I ask is if you ever come to my house please don't look up :)
Anyhow, back to the blackboard, first thing we did was to measure how large we wanted it and then masked the edges. I got the paint from B&Q, which went on really well and for such a little tub went surprisingly far. It was very easy to apply, non drippy, no mess, I gave it a couple of coats and it looks great.
So I am pleased to say that my initial thoughts of it being pretty easy were true and it looks really effective BUT I am not quite sure my family share the same vision for it as I do. I think its for pretty writing, poems and motivational quotes and they think its for scribbling on!
Wednesday 9 January 2013
The Name Game
I suppose I should also comment on the change of blog name as its well urm changed...
As I no longer have two under two it seemed the right time to change the blog name and also the direction a little bit. (as per my previous post)
So no more Two-Under-Two-Eek and Hello Jules Home!!!
As I no longer have two under two it seemed the right time to change the blog name and also the direction a little bit. (as per my previous post)
So no more Two-Under-Two-Eek and Hello Jules Home!!!
Tuesday 8 January 2013
Hello... Again
Well
I am back after a little break from all things technical,
blogging, Twitter, Facebook etc and I have to say I've rather enjoyed
it.
I've
got lots done, including:
Painted
a blackboard on my kitchen wall
Restored
an old table
Started
my own little cushion making business (still a work in progress)
Created
my hall wall of fame
Been
on holiday (where I lost my phone which started this month and a bit
of abstinence)
Celebrated
Isobels 2nd birthday (where did that go???)
and
had Christmas and New Year
Also
we seem to have visited every decent (and not quite so decent) school
in my local vicinity and procrastinated beyond belief to try and
decide which three schools to choose for Amelia. (This has given me
endless sleepless nights)
More
to follow on ALL the above.
So
I have been rather busy, with still lots more to do and as I plan on
being a good little blogger so I shall keep you updated along the
way.
I
hope Christmas was good for you and I wish you a very prosperous New
Year xx
To buy
New First 1st Class Postage Stamp Cushion Cover - Charcol Grey / Shabby Chic, Cream plain envelope back - £6.99 Free P&P
if you would like to order please contact me on jules-home@hotmail.com
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