2011 Part Two

September

At 8 weeks pregnant my morning sickness kicked in. Luckily we were on a two week Cornish holiday so it didn't matter that all I wanted to do was lie down and sleep. Thankfully my husband and our friend we holidayed with we're extremely understanding of my naps, mood swings and inability to be anywhere near food whilst it was cooking.

October - December

Aside from going to work, I did very little of anything at all except sleeping and eating. Lots of eating. Lots of sleeping. A small amount of walking on Exmoor in the winter sunshine. We got a tree, decorated it with vintage baubles. Lay on the sofa looking at it, in front of a myriad fires built in the wood burner by my wonderful husband. Delilah got cosier, coming and sitting on the sofa too. 

All photos taken using iPhone apps, all by me except 2nd from bottom which was taken by my brother-in-law.

2011 part one

April

Husband and I went to Paris for Easter. We stayed at Mama Shelter in the 20th, went to a gig, ate late suppers and drank wine in a local wine bar, drank cocktails, smoked gauloise, drank coffee, walked miles, ate macaroons, ate the most amazing meal at Le Chateaubriand, watched Frenchmen play boules and sat in the sunshine.

June

Delilah arrived. She wouldn't say anything when she first came in. Now, she has a variety of miaows for each and every occasion and uses them all frequently and repeatedly. She thinks supper time is anytime from lunchtime onwards and I can't imagine how we lived before she was with us.

July

My nephew arrived. My sister got married.

I would love to share photos but they are not mine to share.

August

After a weekend in Cornwall, we found out that i was pregnant. 

All photos by me using various iPhone apps.

2011 part one

April

Husband and I went to Paris for Easter. We stayed at Mama Shelter in the 20th, went to a gig, ate late suppers and drank wine in a local wine bar, drank cocktails, smoked gauloise, drank coffee, walked miles, ate macaroons, ate the most amazing meal at Le Chateaubriand, watched Frenchmen play boules and sat in the sunshine. 

At Mama Shelter/Getting Ready/Linens at Merci {all photos by me via iPhone apps}

11 in 2011: Looking back

At the start of 2011, Husband and I sat down and came up with a list of 11 aims for 2011. Turns out getting pregnant in July didn't help us with achieving all that was on our list. However, getting pregnant has been on our list since way before 2011 started, just not publicly, so regardless, we are thrilled.

waste less food

A definite success. We planned better, used leftovers more often and generally took more care with food.

install and use a compost bin

Yes. Albeit it's the one that the council provided so happily they come and take it away every week, which makes it an easier proposition. 

finally finish de-cluttering

We've made a lot of progress with this but I wouldn't say we've "finally finished". Something to complete before Pip comes along. 

only beautiful things

Definitely. Especially Delilah. 

see our friends (in London) at least once a month

We were doing pretty well at this until July, whereon I just wanted to hibernate. Something to improve on next year for sure.

go skiing

We abandoned in favour of a trip to Paris. Which was amazing. 

go to Noma

No. Although, the trip was planned, it just had to be abandoned. 

eat lunch at the Ledbury together

Planned but traded in favour of shopping!

stop buying bread and take-away lunches

Sporadic success. Definitely room for improvement.  

go to more gigs - locate local music scene

Husband has been fairly successful. I have been less able being away from London mid week. 

read, finish and discuss at least one "proper" book every month

Hhhmm. I've read more but not sure they are what I meant by "proper" books.

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Coming next, looking back over 2011 and then 12 for 2012.

Saturday morning

This morning we woke up early and I made my first breakfast and a cup of tea for Husband and we ate them snuggled up in bed. It was so cold that we put the electric blanket back on to warm up our toes. Delilah usually joins us upstairs once she has finished her breakfast, usually sitting on the windowsill to have a wash and then settling on the foot of the bed for a sleep. This morning, she couldn't believe her luck at how toasty the bed was and stretched right out in the warmth.

Christmas Wishlist

If money was no object, this is what I would be spending my Christmas money on...

1 - Tom Ford Eye Colour Quad in Silvered Topaz from Selfridges (£62)
2 - Liberty Print Eye Mask from Liberty (£45)
3 - L'Occitane Mum and Baby cleansing shower gel (£13.50)
4 - Long cashmere wristwarmers from Brora (£45)
5 - Orange grained leather Panama 2012 Diary from Smythson (£40)
6 - Gold fox necklace with diamond eyes from Rust Jewellery (£250)

Just a minute in December

Trying to get back into blogging. I can't believe the last time I posted a 'just a minute' post was August. Then again, August was when life turned a bit crazy. Those of you who have been following me on twitter will already know this, but things have been quiet around here for good reason. Alright, not quiet, nigh on silent. In August I found out I was pregnant and we are expecting a baby in April.

Weeks 8-16 were pretty awful from a feeling disgusting and being sick point of view. It was all I could do to get through a working week, let alone do things like blog and see friends. We went on holiday and pretty much all I wanted to do was sleep, or lie down. That said, it was a great trip, and good timing in that it was weeks 8-10 so I could sleep as much as I needed.

I'm now almost at the end of week 21. We've had two successful scans and I'm starting to feel the baby move. For those that are interested in that kind of thing, I've been writing more candidly about the baby and impending motherhood at a new space called Pip. Come over and say hello!

And for those that aren't - don't worry, I will be posting only limited baby things here and aim to be returning to my usual mix of vintage, shopping, weddings and general musings.

And now back to the post...

Reading...  A great stack of pregnancy books, mostly loaned, gifted and bought on Amazon. Including The Happiest Baby on the Block, What to Expect When You're Expecting and Baby Names. However, now that we are safely past 20 weeks, I really should start reading something about birth. Unless my A Practical Wedding book arrives first, in which case, everything else can wait.
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Watching... Pan Am. I've thoroughly enjoyed this light hearted period drama from the American 60s following the stories of 4 Pan American flight attendances. I was so shocked at the racism though; I cannot believe that the world was actually like that. And, of course, I have been following Strictly Come Dancing. What is there not to like - dancing and sparkles.
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Listening... To soothing choral music. Mixed with a good dose of Alice in Chains.
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Buying... New clothes to suit my new shape, where possible non-maternity as I am really struggling to find stylish and interesting maternity clothes on a reasonable budget. A few bits and pieces for the baby, mostly from ebay.
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Loving... Winter. The fact that Delilah has started sitting on the sofa next to me.
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Wanting... To see my friends. More culture. Snow.
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Just a minute - an occasional series of posts inspired by Talking to Unicorns (who was inspired by Daydream Lily). Just a Minute was started by August Street back in 2007.

You should buy this book...

My friend Meg wrote a book. I just bought a copy. It's about weddings and wedding planning. Sane wedding planning. And despite being married already, I can't wait to read it. I can't imagine how it would be if I were engaged. I would be even more excited than I am already... If I knew anyone that was engaged, I would buy them a copy for Christmas. Or just because.

And, if you buy it today, you can help move the book up the best sellers and movers & shakers list.

And for those of us in the UK, here's the link to the Amazon.co.uk site.

(photo by One Love Photo, via A Practical Wedding. Second Image via A Practical Wedding)

Vintage Christmas Decorations

Aren't these beautiful? Vintage Christmas decorations from Shikasuki. They are just so gorgeous that I couldn't resist sharing them with you.



These are both 1960s US decorations: glass lantern style baubles with little angels and Christmas trees inside. They would look stunning both on a Christmas tree or suspended at varying heights in a window or archway.


These are Russian glass 3d pine cones in a rainbow of shades with glitter frosting. They are 1940s-50s from the Soviet era USSR and look fantastic grouped together in a bowl or vase as well as hung in the traditional fashion on a tree.

And no tree or mantelpiece is complete without an angel or fairy. These are 1940s feathered angels. Standing 8 inches tall they have porcelain heads and perfectly coiffed porcelain hair.

Prices from £3-£35. All from Shikasuki, 67 Gloucester Avenue, London, Nw1 8LD.

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Re-published from the archives. We decorated our tree this afternoon and as I unwrapped my beautiful vintage bauble collection I wanted to re-share the information about obtaining them.

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This is not a sponsored post. I paid for all my decorations myself, although I did use to help in the shop, which I was delighted to do, as Shikasuki is my absolute favourite vintage shop.