Getting Sparkly....So Not Cool....

I don't know if you've ever gone out feeling that you've scrubbed up well until you got back and realised you really did not.

Last night was one of those nights.

I was chatting with some lovelies over on Facebook .....

{and what do you mean you've not joined me over there yet? Just clickety-click on this here 'Like' button so as not to miss out on any more awesome chitchat...

Aaaah, isn't that so much better?!}

....about how I was going to a good friend of mine's birthday do. It was a dressing-up occasion....which normally you can't drag me away from.

But, now 32 weeks pregnant, I'm getting biiiiiiiiiiiiiiig, girlies. There's no getting round it. I tried on what seemed like a hundred different dresses, all of which made me feel utterly enormous, until I came across one tucked at the back of my wardrobe that I'd not worn before.

It was made of gorgeous, stretchy, sparkly material that seemed to cling in all the good places, and skim over the not-so-good.

Cue a very frolicsome night indeed....

until I got home and my handsome husband pointed out that somehow the afore-mentioned sparkles had transferred themselves in quantity from my dress to my face.

Not like this.....

Mmmmmm........not so good.

...more like this!!

So, I would like to reassure you all that I'm not embracing my eleven-year-old self make-up-wise.

{What? Didn't you put glitter-gel on your face too?}

It was just a very unfortunate incident.....

Please tell me I'm not alone 

in my going-out embarrassments....

Have you been there too?

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Book Review: Shed Chic

Hello sunshine,

I do believe that if garden shed makeovers are up your style street, 

then I promised you a cracker today. 

Read on, my friends, read on.....

It's easy to let your dreams stay as dreams

{speaking from experience!}

but if you're looking to turn that ugly old shed 

into a palace fit for a king

{or queen!}

then I've found a great place to start you on the road 

to your very own gorgeous shed...

 

Shed Chic by Sally Coulthard

{published by Jacqui Small}

is an absolute goldmine of incredible inspiration

and extremely practical advice.

I first found this book a few years ago 

and still find its ideas completely current, 

as well as being a total feast for the senses. 

It's divided into three sections.

The first, Shed Design, looks at different shed styles...

from Modern through to Country, 

via Eco-Chic and Gypsy Caravans, 

teeny-tiny and mansion-like;

there's something for everyone.

The next section, Shed Style, takes the reader through the 

different functions that their dream shed might have:

from a basic but gorgeous potting shed...

to a special retreat for your favourite guests....

And then lastly, the part without photos!!

At first glance, it would be easy to skip over this section 

but it's probably the most useful part of the book.

Shed Chic takes you step by step through the design process

covering not-very-glamorous-but essential-none-the-less issues such as: 

planning permission,

water supplies,

heating,

security...

This is one of my favourite design books of all time...

and I think you'll love it too...

(it's listed on my Amazon widget in the sidebar if you're interested)

from beautiful beginning...

...to sumptuous end...

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Garden Shed Envy

This time of year always seems to be full of gardening plans for me. 

I was looking back at this post from last March, 

where I was talking about plans for our back garden. 

Some of my plans have come about very nicely indeed.

{I know, I know......Details to come...promise}

And, others?....errrr....not so much.

The summerhouse/super-duper-gorgeous shed idea, in particular. 

Our family life is still at the stage where we seem to need to store huge amounts 

of what can only be described as 'tat' until it's ready for the next child. 

But, one day....

One day.....?

And in the meantime, I can dream.

Will you dream along with me?

And, my friends, if you're lucky enough to be thinking about this for real...

and, to be honest, even if you're not....

then have I got a FAB post for you on Monday....

Images via: unknown, Foxtons, Country Homes and Interiors, 

House to Home, Birdlike, unknown, Country Homes and Interiors

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Stella McCartney's Garden

Oooh, do I have something very gorgeous indeedy for you today.

Stella McCartney was featured in Vogue recently.

If you missed it, here are the images of Stella's incredible garden.

It's exactly what I've been small-garden-loving over the past few weeks

...but on a rather significantly larger scale!!

Remember here, when I talked about Modern Country essentials for small gardens?

We chatted about formal planting....

....including parterres...

and topiary...

and then adding to it with informal, country garden planting.

Soft, feminine and romantic...

Stella's garden is a Modern Country Garden to a tee. 

And if it's romance you're after, how's this for an anniversary present?

Yes...a whole new walled garden!!

Stella McCartney's a lucky girl...

And just when I was hoping thinking, 

"Well, the garden's nice but I bet the house is hideous", 

Vogue went and gave us this shot...

Hmmph. But at least she doesn't have her own horses, right?

Oh, wait...

;-)

Stella McCartney's utterly idyllic 

Modern Country Garden 

is a sight for sore eyes, don't you think?

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Book Review: Flowers Every Day by Paula Pryke

What a perfect weekend we had in England weather-wise. 

Warm and mild and gentle and mellow. 

Top-class British perfection, I'd say.

And to celebrate all the lovely pottering I was able to do in our garden,

I have just the book for you today.....

Paula Pryke's Flowers Every Day.

{Published by Jacqui Small}

Oh, it's a complete treat for the eyes.

And for the mind too.

So many gorgeous ideas.

The basic premise is that it should be possible, with clever use of your garden, together with carefully bought selections, to 

enjoy flowers at home every day of the year.

A good one, don't you think, as premises go?

But how does it measure up in the practical stakes? 

Let's dig in....

Flowers Every Day 

is divided into seasons....

 

...and with each season, Paula Prykes takes you 

through what could be available in your garden...

 

and what works well when bought....

 

I love it that both these aspects are covered. 

Learn how to enjoy the best of Country (the Cutting Garden) 

and the best of Modern (the best flowers you can buy).

Modern Country Gardening.

Bliss!

Special events are covered too....

Mother's Day

{LOVE this idea...}

 

and Easter...

 

There's plenty of advice for the gardener...

 

and expert tips for getting the very most from your flower-buying.

Not necessarily by buying the cheapest of the cheap

...but by understanding what will give you a longer vase life.

All in all, this book is jam-packed 

full of original ideas...

for the novice...

 

and the clever-clogs...

 

So lovely.

I've included it on my sidebar 

{to your right and up a bit}

in the Amazon widget of 

my favourite Modern Country books.

This could be yours...

Tempted?

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