You know I love a bargain...

I posted a little while back about searching for winter clothes for the girls in the middle of summer.

I know I may be a little crazy but hey I like a bargain :)

So I got my girls Uggs at bargain basement prices and next on my hit list was Hunters

I stumbled across this fabulous website http://www.countryhouseoutdoor.co.uk/ where I got bargains galore!

Including my girls Hunter Wellies for only £17.45 and I have to say I am thrilled with them, delivery was super quick and the girls love them.

Thought I'd share this little gem with you

Happy bargain hunting...



(P.S. I am in no way associated with Country House Outdoor I just thought I'd share my find)

How to bag a bargain

Ok in all honesty I am rubbish at getting bargains, it always seems like too much hassle to save a couple quid but as I am getting notoriously tight in my old age I appear to be turning into my Nana.

I got a fantastic deal a few months ago on my tumble drier, brand new from a shop but through ebay, a cheeky bid of £79 won me a £300 tumble drier! Woo to the Hoo!

Now it is the middle of summer and the weather is glorious my mind turns to winter (obviously, duh) so I am on the look out for kids Ugg Boots and Hunter Wellies, I refuse to pay full wack (for Uggs any way) but of course I want new so its a bit tricker.

But once again eBay came up trumps and I have got two pairs of Uggs one for £24 and the other for (wait for it..) £15!! and that included the postage.

Its safe to say I was bloody delighted

I have to say that they would not be my first choice in style if I was paying £140 but for the kids they are great.

and I of course wont sell their old Uggs until the weather turns cold so I can get a good price for them. 

Next thing you know I will be cutting out coupons...

For Sale Laura Ashley Curtain Tie Backs...

Hand made beautiful Laura Ashley Curtain Tie Backs

£9.99 (free Post)

Currently available in

Josette Floral Linen Mix - Dove Grey

Gosford Plum

Millwood Leaf - Duck Egg Blue

Awning Stripe - Camomile 

Hydrangea Linen Mix - Camomile

Irving Stripe - Olive

Pattern will vary  

All seams are overlocked to prevent fraying

They are made to order so dispatch time is 5 working days 

To guarantee your peace of mind I operate a 14 day return policy

If you would prefer to buy through ebay..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181166441024?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Free Post and Packaging

Visit my Facebook Page to see full range

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jules-at-Home/518522438198455?ref=hl

http://jules-home.blogspot.co.uk/

For Sale Laura Ashley Gosford Plum Door Stop..

Fabric Door Stop in the hugely popular fabric by Laura Ashley – Gosford Plum

£12.99 (free post)

Pattern will vary

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YOU WILL NEED ABOUT 2.5 TO 3KG OF RICE (NOT INCLUDED) TO FILL IT

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There is a velcro opening at the bottom to make filling very easy

All seams are overlocked to prevent fraying

To guarantee your peace of mind I operate a 14 day return policy

If you would prefer to buy through ebay...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181166438114?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Visit my Facebook Page to see full range

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jules-at-Home/518522438198455?ref=hl

http://jules-home.blogspot.co.uk/

Christmas...

Is it too early to talk about Christmas?

Ok, I know its only June (I say only, this year is FLYING!)

But whilst we have had all this beautiful weather, I have been sat in the garden planning my Christmas to do list

and here is a little taster of some of the things I hope to be recreating and selling this christmas.

Now of course they will not be exact replicas (please do not report me to the fraud squad) but they are my inspiration. (courtesy of the great and almighty Pinterest)

Let me know what you think?

Christmas Cushions....

If you haven't already discover Dear Lillie site please go and look its Beautiful with a capital B!

Christmas Stockings

Christmas Bunting

Fathers Day Gifts...

I'm a bit late with this post (sorry) well I have actually written it once and didn't save it, a few choice swear words were muttered I can tell you!

Anyhow this is what we did for Fathers Day this year...

I like to do something personal with the girls for Fathers Day, they enjoy doing it for a start and I think it's nice to have something to keep and remind us how little they were (are).

Last year they painted gnomes and as we are currently doing the garden I thought another garden based gift was on the right lines.

This year it was bird houses! Even though I'm not quite sure any birds would actually fit in the hole???

So thanks to Hobby Craft (again, even though it ends up costing a small bloody fortune every time I go in) I got the houses and paints, which I then lacquered after the girls painted them to make them water resistant.

They had a great time covering everything in paint and glitter (including my kitchen, glitter EVERYWHERE) but they enjoyed it which was the main thing and Daddy (and Grandad, they did him one as well) loved them.

I also got Daddy a Ladybird World and a Horrible Science Kit, as I want to encourage them to be interested in the natural world and science, I can't think of a better way of learning than doing stuff with Daddy :)


I hope you all had a lovely Father's Day xx

School Dilemmas....

I'm having a dilemma about whether to buy Amelia's school uniform or not

I have contacted school admissions and she is still first on the waiting list so our chances of getting in are pretty certain but its just a case of waiting it out

But I don't want to leave buying her school uniform until the last minute as... well... I like to be organised and not being organised is making me itch!

Basic school stuff I have e.g. Pinafores, Skirts, Trousers, PE stuff as its the same for both schools, its the school logo'd items that I want to order.

Do they run out? Do I have to get my order in early(ish) or can I wait until August (will I survive that long without ordering, is more the question)

Argh!! 


I think it would have been much easier if we were say 6th on the list and then I would know we wouldn't  be getting in and I would have come to terms with it and I would have bought all my stuff.

Or do I just buy the bare essentials and try to make do?

Bugger!

What a difference a table makes...

My very talented husband turned his hand to carpentry a few weeks ago and made a fabulous garden table out of old scaffolding boards that were originally destined for our log burner next winter (curtesy of my Dad, thanks Dad!).

I was trawling eBay for an old dining table that I could paint up and looking for inspiration on Pinterest (which will eventually be my downfall, remember this moment when you see me on Sky News defending my right to sell my own children for stuff I've fallen in love with on sodding Pinterest)

Anyhow I came across scaffold tables and showed them to my OH whilst I idly suggested that he could make one, thinking no way on this earth would he do it but he did!

And not only did he make it with enthusiasm, he made it in only a day and a bit AND it's great! I love it!

It has totally transformed how we use our garden, I have sewed on it, we have eaten virtually every meal at it (ok the beautiful weather has helped ALOT), we've had a family BBQ where 11 people comfortably sat around it, the girls have painted & drawn at it and if the apocalypse ever happens its easily strong enough for us to hide under...

It truly has changed our summer habits, just praying now that we get lots more nice weather to use it.

Saying that though, I was even planning autumn BBQs, cosied around the chimnea and eating at the table (I've gone mad!!)

I still need to sort chairs out for it, I think I'm going for a mix of wood and old wrought iron, I've not decided yet. Lots more Pinterest browsing to do....

My husband also appears to have "the bug" and is going to make me a pergola and a bench next.

All exciting stuff for my garden, what with new flower borders going in, my soon to be completed veggie patch, I am a happy girl.

I will keep you posted :)

The Door Stop - Laura Ashley Josette Fabric

I have finally mastered the door stop (woo hoo, does happy dance)

Here is the finished result

More fabrics to follow shortly

£12.99 (free postage)

:)

Did you get your first choice school?

Excuse me whilst I sob into my pillow...

We didn't get our first choice....

Or second choice....

We got our third choice!

I think that is why this post is two months late, I've been in denial and pretended it wasn't happening but now it's time to face facts and admit it to myself.

At first I wasn't too fussed as all three schools are good schools, (it was actually my second choice but my husbands third so thats how it ended up in bottom place) and the third choice school also has an excellent school nursery that Isobel can start in January.

But as time has gone on I've got more disappointed.

There isn't much in it regarding Sats and Ofsted BUT my first choice school is the best school in the area, and has a fantastic reputation where as my third choice school has just had a new head who is doing marvels with the school it's just not quite up to my first choice.

And the killer kick is we missed out on our first choice by 0.03 miles!

0.03 miles!!! Gutted!

So we are on the waiting list and up to now we are first in the que (yes, that's how close we were, missed out by one sodding place! Excuse me whilst I go and sob again).

And just to rub my nose in it, pretty much all of Amelia's nursery friends are going to my first choice so the mums are all glowy and happy and I want to scream!! Ok well maybe not a scream but still it gets me all irritated, not that it takes much but hey ho.

But and it's an important but, I do know how ridiculously lucky we are that we have such good schools to choose from and its a nice middle class area so no Jeremy Kyle types but still I am keeping everything crossed we get the call we are in, it will probably come the day after I order her school uniform....

Month of May catch up....

Ok so I'm still crazy busy so here's a quick catch up for the month of May!

We have been to....

Chester Zoo, love, love, love this place

A day out with Thomas the Tank Engine

And contrary to their faces they had a great day out!

The girls went on a train for the first time.

A big old steam train that went from Bury to Rochdale (and back).

It was fantastic, we had a little picnic and I love this picture :)

We went to Blackpool, Amelia the thrill seeker wanted to go on every ride she could and Isobel wouldn't go on any, chalk and cheese.

We had Amelia's 4th Birthday.

4???? Where on earth did those years go?

She had two parties, one for all her friends and one for family and thankfully it didn't rain.

And August 2008 must of been a very aherm.. busy month as we've had parties every weekend this May.

The girls and hubby did a bit of gardening, put in a border, potted lots of tubs and hanging baskets and he even made a table (more to come on that one)

Craft wise, I finally got around to learning how to make bunting and did a very simple birthday bunting for Amelia and I have sussed the dreaded door stop.

The girls have decided they want to share a room, up to now we've had a few late ish nights but they are doing pretty well, it's lovely to hear them chatting in bed, very cute.

As they are very close anyway I'm hoping it helps to cement the sister bond, they already hold hands where ever they go, long may it continue as it warms my heart.


Amelia has started her swimming lessons (and Isobel is moaning because she wants to go as well)

Kitty had a hair cut and has digressed back to Cujo (argh). He has been booked in go get his bits cut off so I'm hoping it calms him down a bit.

It was also my birthday, getting ever closer to that 40.... Eek 

I will be back on track with the blog next week, need to get half term out of the way and I have cushion orders coming out of my ears but I have loads to write about.

School placement

My learning to cook update

Making princess crowns

My new table

Making bunting

See you on the other side xx

Erm my plant pot is waving at me....

Well not quite waving but it's definitely high fiving me!

I'm convinced this little hand has just appeared. We've had the pot for eight years at least and I have never seen the hand before.

My husband thinks it was covered with soil but I am really not convinced, I think I would have seen it.. Surely???

But it's starting to creep me out a bit! I mean where on earth did it come from???

So my plant pot can high five off... Unless it could be the next hand of God like those images in toast...

Hmmm... I wonder how much I would get on eBay for a haunted flower pot...?

Making real gravy.... Revised!

I was a bit nervous of this one for some reason, but in reality it was very simple and absolutely delicious.

I will not go back to instant gravy for roasts ever again, it made such a difference to the meal.

So here is what I did

Put pan with meat juices onto the hob and heated until fat started spitting

Then I added two table spoons of plain flour and mixed to a paste

I then added hot water from my potatoes and whisked

You can add a stock/oxo cube at this point if you desire (I did)

Then I whisked some more


I left to simmer on the hob whilst I dished out and it thickened up nicely

I will say that I struggled to get the flour to mix completely so I had to siv the gravy but for my first attempt I was delighted with the result.

Update!

I have figured out how to not make lumpy gravy (woo hoo) and its down what I stir with. If I use a spoon with holes in then viola I don't get lumps, which makes me a happy girl :)

Sunday catch up....

Sorry I've been a bit quiet of late, I've had a horrible chest infection that has exhausted me, along with being ridiculously busy, I don't seem to have had a spare minute.

We have been planning Amelia's 4th Birthday party and after going through every type of party imaginable she has finally decided to have a soft play party (thank god! At least we can just leave them to it). So the invites have been sent and all I now need to do is come terms with the fact my baby is almost 4!!!!

Talking of my beautiful 3 year old (still saying it whilst I can) she finally got her gymnastics jacket after we ordered it 2 months ago (don't ask). The absolute delight on her face when she got it though was well worth the wait. She hasn't had it off since Tuesday and even went to bed in it on the night she got it, bless her :)

In other news, I have managed to make a start on some of my other projects (at last!)

I made a garland for my kitchen window, I originally was going to make some curtains but as the kitchen can be quite dark I decided against it but I still wanted "something" and I saw this on Pinterest (gotta love that site) and went for it.

It looks great but I can't get a decent picture of it, for the life of me (grrr)

I plan next week to paint my kitchen chairs (I know, I've been saying it for months but I mean it this week).

Also I'm on the look out for a shelf unit to refurb and then the kitchen will be pretty much done (until I rip it out and put French doors in)

Oh and I'm after a big ass rug for in there as well.....

What else have I done.... Oh yes... sew, sew and more sewing. I have some new fabric which is beautiful to touch and predicting its going to be popular.

And I got some fabric to start making some bunting, I'm starting simple with some birthday bunting for Millie Poo so I will post that hopefully next week.

And that's about it, hubby is off next week so visits to a local farm, swimming and a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine are all planned.... Happy Days!!

Sunday catch up

Well it's been a busy old week

Spent lots of time with my sister, which is something I love doing and we don't do enough off, I think a little pampering weekend is on the cards soon.

Then it's been all cushions, cushions, cushions! Mad busy, which is fabulous. Well, apart from the girls wrecking my house whilst I sew (argh) but I am not complaining :)

I am currently buying new fabric for some lovely spring time cushions, bunting and I want to crack the door stop (bloody cube shape!)

Time to step it up a gear I think.

Cooking wise it's been a low and then high, I had the family around for lunch last Sunday and I was all smug about my Yorkshire Puddings and guess what.... They didn't rise!!!!!

How frigging typical!

Then Monday I made Toad in the hole and it was perfect YAY!!!

All comes out equal in the end...

But now we are all ill well the hubby and I are coughing and spluttering, feeling sorry for ourselves. A quiet weekend is on the cards with a visit to grandparents on Saturday and a little walk and the pub on Sunday.

Hopefully we will be back fighting fit sharpish.

Yummmmmy Toad in the Hole

Cushions, Cushions, Cushions

My very talented sister cutting Amelias hair

Cousins having fun!

Laura Ashley Woodland Creatures Childrens Nursery Cushion Cover 16"

Beautiful Hand Made Cushion Covers made in Laura Ashley Woodland Creatures Fabric.

Size 16 x 16 inches

I can do other sizes if required

This cushion cover has a cream envelope reverse

£7.99

A little taster of my spring range

Spring is in the air and I am seeing lots of lots of yellows about so I have made this little beauty today with more to come over the next few weeks :)

Reversible Laura Ashley Awning Fabric, Zipped 

£13.99 Free P&P