tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71421538381227578032024-03-14T03:10:18.838+00:00The Home Organisation ProjectSarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-15993288032170983572020-03-26T14:59:00.002+00:002020-03-26T15:10:36.684+00:00Unmentionable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you know what? I'm pretty over hearing about the Coronavirus. I don't mean that in a glib, dismissive way. I just mean that it's <b>everywhere </b>in the media, all everyone is talking about and thinking about. I think I'm going to stop mentioning it here unless it's absolutely necessary.<br /><br />Maybe it'll be good for me to focus on what this blog was about in the first place. I'm stuck in our home for the foreseeable, so I might as well make the most of it. Thankfully, since I started writing this blog many moons ago I've actually turned myself around, home wise. I'm not a neat freak, and if you show up to my home unannounced (let's just pretend that's an option) then you'll definitely see pots by the sink and toys on the floor (and probably pee on the floor in the toilet...I mean, I have boys...) However, I'm so much more organised in general. I just have low standards.<br /><br />Let's face it, with 3 kids I can't afford to have high standards, can I? Or maybe I can. But I don't. I prioritise way more stuff over cleaning and tidying, but I definitely get enough done so that I don't feel like I live in a crap hole. Most of the time.<br /><br />
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In the last few years, we've made a few changes, including a house move, which I'll tell you about at some point. I think I was still pregnant when I was writing before and obviously, Youngest arrived things got a bit cray cray for a while. I swear, am I the only one that thinks it takes a good 3 years before you feel halfway normal after having a baby. Schedule-wise I mean?<br /><br />So I'm going to go and plan some non-virus blog posts and I'll see you soon!<br />
<br />Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-17412771847262636222020-03-26T14:43:00.001+00:002020-03-26T15:10:36.767+00:00Quality Outside Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The weather is improving, despite the current state of the world's population. Huzzah for quality outside time! The garden has been sorely neglected over the winter, so we all went out to trim and tittivate.<br />
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Eldest decided she wanted to mess about with wood, so she made a cool little guinea pig toy, which I'll show you another day when I remember to take a photo.<br />
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The boys ran around being crazy, taking it in turns to shoot some hoops from off the top of the slide. Social distancing hasn't yet affected the ice cream van, so when the kids heard the chimes they sent Scott out to chase it down.<br />
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While the kids were playing happily in the sunshine, Scott and I got busy trimming hedges and bushes, weeding paths and sweeping up mess. We now have a lovely little patio area for the kids picnic table to go on to and the whole garden is looking much nicer. Yeah, we know that fence needs fixing - it's on the list!<br />
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This was the last weekend before the schools officially shut. Things have been quite a bit different since then...<br />
<br />Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-63496417575763574362020-03-21T19:12:00.004+00:002020-03-26T15:10:36.820+00:00Coronavirus UK, 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, it's now 2020 and the robots aren't here doing my housework. Nor are there hoverboards or replicators. Instead, we have a virus running rampant, causing untold amounts of hardship and thousands of deaths. This is not the future I had in mind, thank you very much.<br />
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But since it's the future that we're stuck with for the moment, I decided to resurrect my old blog so that I could wile away the hours doing something that I enjoy - prattling on to no one in typed form, about nothing in particular.<br />
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Except. I guess this isn't nothing. It's a pretty humongous something in fact.<br />
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As it stands today there are over 300,000 known cases of Coronavirus worldwide with almost 13,000 deaths. Here in the UK we have over 5,000 cases and 233 deaths.<br />
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We have all been told to stay in our homes as much as is practically possible. Schools closed at the end of last week and so did all pubs, restaurants and cafes. Well, they were told that they have to close. Schools have been working out who are the "key workers" needed to keep up vital services such as NHS, food production, schooling and tons more. The children of those key workers may still go to school if no other option is possible, but only as a last resort.<br />
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People in certain higher risk groups such as those over 70 and those with underlying medical conditions have been told to self-isolate at home for at least 12 weeks in order to protect themselves.<br />
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The supermarket shelves are bare of many things, most notably toilet roll, pasta, bread and hand sanitiser.<br />
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It's a truly crazy time to be alive, it really is! I know that there will be plenty of people documenting this, and I'm certainly not going to be a stand out correspondent of the time, but I would like to get down some thoughts and events for our little family.<br />
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Plus, in keeping with the spirit that this blog was created in, I am going to use this time to simplify and get back to basics at home. Let's face it - there might not be much of an option except from simple. With hoards of people being laid off across the nation and having to self-isolate for 14 days with little to no pay every time one of us runs a temperature or gets a new cough! We're all skint! But we are all in this together.Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-65023724134543540142015-11-08T20:05:00.000+00:002020-03-28T14:24:13.854+00:00DIY Minions Initial Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just a quick one. I had to show you these Minions prints I made for Korben's room. Like probably most five-year-old boys he absolutely <b>adores </b>minions - thinks they're hilarious!! I have been looking all over for some Minions artwork for his walls for months to no avail.<br />
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Well, the other day I thought sod it! I'll just make my own! I had bought some frames already for the cheapo price of £1.99 each from Home Bargains. All I needed was some patience and a free vector image downloaded from Google.<br />
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Korben is thrilled to bits with his new bedroom artwork and to be honest so am I!<br />
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<br />Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-66834213883421189442014-09-02T19:30:00.001+01:002020-03-28T14:23:16.204+00:00Bloglovin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been following a few blogs on Bloglovin' for a while, but I've never claimed my own on there before! So that's what I've done tonight. I really hope you will follow me there! Please click the link below!<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4247391/?claim=hndfzy45z9s">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-84010728913393993502013-12-31T17:35:00.000+00:002020-03-28T14:23:01.510+00:00The End of The Big Unit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Beautiful friend</div>
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This is the end</div>
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My only friend, the end. </div>
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Actually, you weren't that beautiful Big Unit and you're certainly not my only friend. Cause that would be remarkably sad of me, and I'm sure there will be a medical name for people who personify and feel affectionate towards furniture.<br />
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Although you were an amazing gift of storage, you were an imposing, dark hulk. The Ikea Besta TV and Storage Unit overshadowing our living room with your large squareness and never looking tidy for longer than half a minute. You became the ultimate catch-all for clutter, your shelves being so far out of the reach of children. It was too easy to place things atop your tallness rather than seek out the proper, neat placement of items.<br /><br />So we took you apart.</div>
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Each time we took a section away we had to wait until that piece was in its new location AND find a temporary home for all the mountains of <b>stuff </b>that was contained therein before we could take the next section away...</div>
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But we persisted until there was naught but the little TV section in the middle left...</div>
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Aw, isn't it cute! This is the only section we got rid of - we just gave it away. The rest of the sections were used in other parts of the house. After all, good storage is as vital as breathing! Well, it is in our house where clutter seems to breed of its own accord. </div>
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But look! When I painted the living room I didn't move the Big Unit, I simply painted around it. And when we took out the fireplace Scott just screwed a big piece of plywood across the hole. In fact, part of the reason why the Big Unit was<i> so</i> big was because we needed a unit that would cover that fireplace hole so we didn't have to sort it out properly. </div>
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Alas, these things have to be dealt with eventually so we got a professional in to plaster it up for us. </div>
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Yes, that is a patch of mismatched carpet where the hearth used to be, but thankfully the new unit covers that up. Also, Scott patched in the skirting board. </div>
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I have an actual real office space now with an actual DESK and <i>everything</i>. </div>
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So my beautiful friend the Big Unit is no more. Former office in a cupboard, ironing pile storage, crafting stash holder and clutter catch-all. Gone. And in its place...</div>
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Why it's an Ikea Besta TV and Storage Unit of course!! </div>
Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-58918687197987163842013-12-31T09:01:00.000+00:002020-03-28T14:17:31.395+00:00Wasted Space to Memo Place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OtitgrspIzo/UsHDnaINC5I/AAAAAAAAW1w/9FokK1HIwYk/s1600/vinyl+stick+on+chalk+board+in+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OtitgrspIzo/UsHDnaINC5I/AAAAAAAAW1w/9FokK1HIwYk/s400/vinyl+stick+on+chalk+board+in+kitchen.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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I had this completely wasted space right at the end of the high kitchen units. I have always thought I could do with doing something with that area but never knew what exactly. The main thing was I didn't want to screw anything into the unit itself to spoil it, so many of my ideas fell flat.<br />
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Then while I was browsing Amazon I came across this stuff - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004P0CB6W/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Adhesive Chalkboard Wall Sticker</a>. Ah-mazing! It's a blackboard sticker! And it doesn't leave a mark when you take it off. Genius!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u8O_1VTeN1k/UsHTdOKsW3I/AAAAAAAAXFc/oz9FLUTiBYo/s1600/adhesive+blackboard+vinyl+wall+sticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u8O_1VTeN1k/UsHTdOKsW3I/AAAAAAAAXFc/oz9FLUTiBYo/s400/adhesive+blackboard+vinyl+wall+sticker.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I already had a chalkboard that I used for menu planning, but it was just stuck on a shelf and I was irritated with having to keep taking it down and putting it back and stuff. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yRxtAPYWTLs/UQp6EmEarRI/AAAAAAAACyk/4EEjyNVqgtI/s1600/How+to+menu+plan+menu+planning+tutorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yRxtAPYWTLs/UQp6EmEarRI/AAAAAAAACyk/4EEjyNVqgtI/s400/How+to+menu+plan+menu+planning+tutorial.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Anyhoo, I forgot to take a decent "before" photo, but here's one from a while ago where you can just about see the edge of the unit on the left.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e5enMr82bs4/TKnctJzxCmI/AAAAAAAAAm0/E1jIWvJI-T0/s1600/IMG_1169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e5enMr82bs4/TKnctJzxCmI/AAAAAAAAAm0/E1jIWvJI-T0/s400/IMG_1169.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And this is what I did with it.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OtitgrspIzo/UsHDnaINC5I/AAAAAAAAW1w/9FokK1HIwYk/s1600/vinyl+stick+on+chalk+board+in+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OtitgrspIzo/UsHDnaINC5I/AAAAAAAAW1w/9FokK1HIwYk/s400/vinyl+stick+on+chalk+board+in+kitchen.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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The clipboards were also from Amazon here: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000I5VWHC/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">A4 Brown Clipboards</a>, and they were a bargain at £1.69 each when I got them. I mainly put those there to get rid of the paper clutter from our cooker hood. Because the cooker hood is the only visible magnetic surface in the kitchen it was getting overloaded in invitations, Lyric's school menu, leaflets, etc. I guessed it was a bit of a fire hazard too with it being directly above the hob... </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kiLjUzK3rm0/UsHZOAa3HBI/AAAAAAAAXNc/pQaew8dxVd8/s1600/messy+cooker+hood+magnets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kiLjUzK3rm0/UsHZOAa3HBI/AAAAAAAAXNc/pQaew8dxVd8/s400/messy+cooker+hood+magnets.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used the super-awesome <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000FSORW4/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Command Hooks</a> also from Amazon (no I am not an affiliate, but maybe I <i>should </i>be, lol!) They stick to surfaces without leaving a mark when you want to take them down. I use the little clear ones for all my Xmas decorating and these larger ones can hold up to 1.3kg apparently! </div>
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Don't mind the bit of graffiti on there, it's just what HAS to be done to christen every writing surface. It sat there as a place holder until I did this week's menu plan. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f3fjsM16K1E/UsHDljIc_dI/AAAAAAAAW1o/OxDWrggGOuI/s1600/menu+planning+chalk+board+kitchen+wall+sticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f3fjsM16K1E/UsHDljIc_dI/AAAAAAAAW1o/OxDWrggGOuI/s400/menu+planning+chalk+board+kitchen+wall+sticker.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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And the great thing is that because the double doors to the living room are glass we don't have to worry about not being able to see what is there.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nci_MG7Suww/UsHDf9j35zI/AAAAAAAAW1A/a5NHmBYQ2YI/s1600/chalk+board+wall+sticker+for+menu+planning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nci_MG7Suww/UsHDf9j35zI/AAAAAAAAW1A/a5NHmBYQ2YI/s400/chalk+board+wall+sticker+for+menu+planning.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Nope, there are no Friday meals planned! I got bored and figured I'll have to go shopping again for LooLoo's birthday shizzle, so I might as well save me the brain effort of planning Friday as well.<br />
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I hope you all have a fabulous New Years' Eve! I will be staying in with my Chicken Pox riddled kiddos, getting grumpy when the fireworks wake me up at midnight. Pretty similar to the last three New Years then! Ha ha! :)Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-59300947997657872252013-03-24T09:47:00.000+00:002020-03-28T14:14:09.959+00:00The Writing's On The Wall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Literally! I am a huge fan of wordy art, and I have finally managed to fill the hugely blank nothingness in our living room.<br />
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You might recall that our living room is loooong with big straight walls and for the longest time they were bare and pretty much as boring as you can get.<br />
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These are the before photos, but I have taken some after pictures so you can see the difference. Now our room looks lived in and has some of personality.<br />
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This section of wall is just next to our Big Unit, and it's also the first thing you look at when you come through the door.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm-XRJDKDzU/UU7FMqiAKGI/AAAAAAAAEl0/I-xb1Xf1u1Q/s1600/Next+Moustache+Instagram+Living+Room+Artwork+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm-XRJDKDzU/UU7FMqiAKGI/AAAAAAAAEl0/I-xb1Xf1u1Q/s400/Next+Moustache+Instagram+Living+Room+Artwork+Picture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I absolutely love this mustache picture, which I bought from Next in the sale. I think it's just the right amount of silly, and 'taches are still pretty 'in' here in the UK. (I actually typed 'on trend' there first and felt an utter berk, so I deleted it. Ha! Maybe I am more of a berk for telling you that though... I shouldn't have mentioned it. Please keep reading!).<br />
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The huge frame holds a collage of my Instagram photos. I absolutely LOVE the fact that there are photos of completely inane things on here, like cheese on toast and my menu plan alongside photos of the kids. It's like an eclectic mix of the every day, and makes me smile whenever I look at it. I actually put this together in Photoshop, but if I were to do it again I think I would try using the collage feature of Picasa instead.<br />
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I still think I need a lil something above the 'tache, right next to the Instagram collage, but I'm not sure what...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Zzy974AIB0/UU7FQ_A_2gI/AAAAAAAAEmU/tUwtK_nEThc/s1600/ikea+ribba+picture+ledge+white+living+room+art+display+shelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Zzy974AIB0/UU7FQ_A_2gI/AAAAAAAAEmU/tUwtK_nEThc/s400/ikea+ribba+picture+ledge+white+living+room+art+display+shelf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We installed two Ribba picture ledges from Ikea above the sofa. I love the idea of being able to change out the accessories and move the photos and frames about when the mood takes me. I have taken the glass out of the white frame on the top shelf though, and I <i>have to</i> remove the glass from any larger frames I have up here. I have a real fear of the frames falling down and injuring the kids. They have actually fallen off here before when I had them placed in portrait orientation, so now I also just have them landscape. I guess if you don't have kids bouncing along the sofa directly underneath all the time you can have them any way you like!!<br />
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This huge silver frame matches my Instagram one, but I have attached this to the wall properly. There's no way it would sit on the shelf! Both these large photos I had printed by a local company I just emailed them the image and they printed it the same day. They were only £8 each, which I thought was pretty reasonable.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVVUC0B_4E4/UU7VhHDU7yI/AAAAAAAAEmk/uwt-vktoZw4/s1600/Family+name+definition+artwork+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVVUC0B_4E4/UU7VhHDU7yI/AAAAAAAAEmk/uwt-vktoZw4/s400/Family+name+definition+artwork+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I absolutely love how simple this was to do and how cute it is. I just typed it out in Photoshop and printed myself on white cardstock. I originally saw something like this in a brochure I got through the post. It might have been notonthehighstreet.com... Anyway, I loved the idea, but realised there was no point in paying for one when it's so easy to do myself!<br />
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I'm pretty bored with these three pictures now. They're just made from the matching wallpaper to the curtains I have. I'm stuck on ideas for what to have here instead though. I think I might wait until summer an take some nice new photos of the kiddos... I could even use Instagram images since the frames are square! Hmmm.... :)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNUTFg74rxU/UU7FNYgr1yI/AAAAAAAAEl8/CQlbRpZIo8Q/s1600/Silver+framed+mirror+above+white+radiator+cabinet+a+to+z+bookends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNUTFg74rxU/UU7FNYgr1yI/AAAAAAAAEl8/CQlbRpZIo8Q/s400/Silver+framed+mirror+above+white+radiator+cabinet+a+to+z+bookends.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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No, I wasn't drunk when I took this photo, I was experimenting with a jaunty angle. Maybe not ay?!<br />
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I think I have already shown you my mirror, but I will show you again since I love it. And of course, it <b>is </b>on the wall in here, so it must be included in the tour. I found it at TK Maxx Homestyle and totally had to have it. I'd been looking for a suitable mirror for this space for absolutely ages and had almost given up hope of finding something a bit different.<br />
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I really must thin out the books on this shelf, I have far too many, but I read so quickly, they build up in no time. I have a carrier bag full in my wardrobe too, and I keep meaning to stick on eBay. Must put that down on my 1001 Things To Do list.<br />
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This plaque was from Achica. I love the sentiment here, "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." I am terribly guilty sometimes of thinking too much about the future, so I look at this and I'm reminded that life is happening <b>right now</b>. Even days where the kids are mental, the weather is pants and I have stubbed my toe eleventy-billion times are days to be lived and enjoyed in whatever way I can. It's also there to remind me to relax if we ever encounter bad times again. Before we had our children we went through a pretty rough patch with losing two babies late in pregnancy and I remember feeling like life was literally on pause until the next time I could get pregnant in hopes to bring home a healthy baby next time. I don't ever want to feel like that again.<br />
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And last but by no means, least is my super-awesome book-on-the-wall. I have no idea what these types of pictures are called. They do have a name, but I don't remember it. Maybe it's "Spineless.. something or other" Stupid faulty memory! I think... <i>think </i>I got it from Achica. The silhouettes are obviously the ascent of man and the background is made up of the whole text from Charles Darwin's "Origin of the Species." I am a classic ditherer and it took me so long to decide on whether to buy this, but I'm so glad I took the plunge and bought it. It's ah-mazing. I love love love it! :)<br />
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And that completes the tour of my living room artwork. Now the spaces are filled, but - as always - I don't feel like it's complete. Is anything in the home ever complete?!<br />
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How have you adorned your walls? Link me up in the comments so I can get to know your walls better too. :)Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-64850665900177323882013-01-31T14:10:00.000+00:002020-03-28T14:06:17.572+00:00How To Do Menu Planning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If I had to choose one single thing to recommend to someone struggling with organising their home life I would definitely choose menu planning. It's made the biggest difference to our family! Shopping trips are now quicker and easier - not to mention cheaper. There's no last-minute scramble to find something to cobble together for tea, and either my husband and I can cook without having to have the same old, "You decide!" "No, you decide!" arguments. It's all there in easy black and white! Plus, we almost never throw away food now. Meals are planned so that we use all the ingredients, even if it's over a few days. We even double cook things like chilli, bolognese, soups, and pasta, etc. to freeze and either send with the kids to nursery or use on a lazy day.<br />
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I promise you that if you decide to do weekly menu planning for your family it will be one of the best decisions you've made! Let me tell you about how I do it and then you can decide. :)<br />
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Okay, so I got myself an A5 hardback notebook, which I keep just for doing my menu planning. I figured that sometimes I struggle with deciding on what to eat this week, so if I keep all my previous menu plans in this book I will have weeks and weeks of inspiration to look back on! You could make yours cute if you wanted to. I might do... eventually...<br />
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So, I always use the right-hand page and begin by folding it in half. The left-hand column I use for the actual menu plan and the right-hand side is for my shopping list. You can't see it here, because I didn't happen to do it this week, but I use the back of last week's menu plan on the left-hand page to rough out the meals. I do this because I like to try to eat meals with fresh ingredients or those with a short shelf life at the beginning of the week. Then the end of the week is more for things out of the freezer or meals where the ingredients will last until the end of the week before being used. If I jot down my meal ideas on the left page as they pop into my head I can then decide which order they need to go in before committing them to days.<br />
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It helps if you use the contents of your fridge, freezer, and cupboards to help you plan. Before I was converted to the magic of the menu plan we used to try to pluck meal ideas out of the sky - usually at the last minute! It sounds obvious, but we never used to do it this way, so I'm guessing we weren't alone... Or maybe we were. Maybe no one else is as useless as we were!!<br />
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Anyway, I check the freezer for meat to use and the fridge for veg to use up, etc. Then I check the cupboards for and sauces and packets of rice and things. I do bulk buy now and again, especially on meat. There is probably a loads cheaper way to do it, but I haven't got the time to get up at the crack of dawn to go round all the separate shops n town so I just get the Tesco 4 meats for £12 every few weeks. If I see something on special offer I will buy it, but this is why it's good to check your cupboards when you're doing your meal planning. I used to buy things on special offer and then they would languish at the back of the cupboard for months until finally going out of date!<br />
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Once your meals have been allocated a day. Or your days have been allocated a meal. Whatever! Then you can use your menu plan to compile your shopping list. I look at each meal and check the cupboards to see if we have everything that's required to make it. All ingredients found lacking go on the list along with all the usual supermarket staples like milk, bread, fruit, etc. Also, because my better half knows where the shopping list will be, he can jot down anything he thinks of that he wants when it crosses his mind so it's on the list, ready.<br />
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I think this part is quite clever, even if I do say so myself - Then I use the fold I made in the page to tear the shopping list away, leaving the menu plan in the book. List can be taken shopping. Menu plans can be retained for future reference and inspiration.<br />
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Shopping with a shopping list helps to reduce your food bills considerably too. I used to go to Tesco, buy a trolley full of stuff and spend a fortune. Then when I looked closely there were barely enough things to make a couple of meals, never mind a week's worth! Taking a list - and more importantly - sticking to that list saves loads of money!<br />
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The list in the photo isn't long at all, but usually, I end up going over onto the back of the list. Just remember if you do that to write on the correct half of the page so you don't leave half your list behind. I've done that before!<br />
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When everything is finalised I get out my chalk and copy the menu plan onto the chalkboard. I could just leave it in the book, but I like that this is on show so it constantly reminds me that I need to take the meat out of the freezer, or that today's meal needs me to start prepping it early or whatever. If I don't have a constant visual reminder I just forget.<br />
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Sometimes I plan lunches as well as main meals and sometimes I don't bother. My husband works shifts so my board either has "Mornings" or "Afternoons" written at the top. We alternate when we have our family meal according to his working patterns so that he always eats the main meal with us. Sometimes it's at lunch time, sometimes it's at tea time. I also don't usually plan for the weekend - I'm just not that hardcore! :) Things are likely to change at a moment's notice on a weekend so I just don't bother. Keeps us free to eat out on a whim or whatever.<br />
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The kids are at nursery some days too, so with this and changing shift patterns doing a menu plan really helps you to think ahead and factor these things in without the panic or forgetting. I won't lie, it did take a bit of time to become a habit. I struggled with remembering to take the time to plan instead of just rushing out to the shop. But, the positives of doing it were so pronounced and immediate that it didn't take long for me to <i>make </i>the time and it soon became a habit.<br />
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Well, I hope that this has helped you to understand how great menu planning can be! Do you think you might try it? Do you already menu plan? What do you do differently?<br />
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Thanks for stopping by! :)
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I have linked to...
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<a href="http://makingtheworldcuter.com/" target="_blank">Making The World Cuter</a>
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<a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm</a><br />
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<a href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Funky Junk's Sat Nite Special" border="0" src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/signmakergirl/smallsnsstars.jpg" /></a>Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-90155698928402653722013-01-27T21:10:00.001+00:002020-03-28T14:01:26.196+00:00Toy Organisation / Playroom Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay dokay, so I said I've been busy and I mean it! I have been none stop doing since the new year and it feels amazing! There are a ton of things I want to share with you, but I actually got to take some photos of the toy storage situation today before the kids wrecked it all again. :) It doesn't stay tidy for long!</div>
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This space is the toy room slash playroom. Usually, the kids drag out their toys to play in the living room, which is fine by me. I just think it's wonderful having a room where all their toys can be tidied and hidden away. I am certain this room will evolve as they grow up, but for now, it has everything they need.</div>
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There are some ah-mazing playrooms out there in the blogosphere and on Pinterest and I will admit I feel envious at how much space some people have in their homes to allocate to a play area. There are also some truly innovative and clever little design features, which I would love to incorporate somewhere, but my kids are a bit young yet I think, and we don't have room. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlWHm7yc4J4/UQU6rkRbDoI/AAAAAAAACIE/pSXrZAgHei4/s1600/ikea+expedit+toy+storage+love+organised+toys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlWHm7yc4J4/UQU6rkRbDoI/AAAAAAAACIE/pSXrZAgHei4/s400/ikea+expedit+toy+storage+love+organised+toys.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anyway, one of my invaluable Expedit shelving units lives in this playroom. It used to house all of my crafting gear, but that has since been relegated to the big unit in the living room. I cannot praise these ingeniously simple pieces of furniture enough! I just love them! The cubby holes are a great size for storing toys as they're wide enough to sit things on and big enough to store the kids' books - why are they sometimes so massive?! The Skubb boxes corral all of the bitty bits...<br />
<ul>
<li>Cars and track</li>
<li>Larger cars and trucks</li>
<li>Figures</li>
<li>Baby dolls</li>
<li>Baby doll accessories</li>
<li>Food and crockery for play kitchen</li>
<li>Instruments</li>
<li>Miscellaneous</li>
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On top is where I stash the things I don't want emptying all over and jumbling up - jigsaws and games mainly. If they were within reach there would be a puzzle soup to sort out every day, several times a day. :: shudder ::<br />
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Oh, and my printer is on top there too. Nowhere else to put that thing!<br />
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That's the kid's guitar on the wall. It only has three strings, but the way they hammer it I am wary of adding any more right now! I found it in a charity shop for £5 so it was a real bargain! My husband's guitars used to reside here before they were usurped in favour of <b>morekidsthings</b>. Story of our lives eh! :)<br />
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Can I also just say that i LOVE this play kitchen from Ikea. I know, I know I am all about Ikea again, but it's just awesome! Sooooo many play kitchens are bright pink, which is not ideal if you have children of both genders (although my son does have a lot of pink in his life). And some are just gaudy and nasty looking. This is perfect! It's simple and more like the real thing, which is of course what kids want - to be just like mummy and daddy.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BzUfOh4iGZw/UQU6qi-2amI/AAAAAAAACH4/3fBkm_HTfL0/s1600/girls+bedroom+white+expedit+toy+book+storage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BzUfOh4iGZw/UQU6qi-2amI/AAAAAAAACH4/3fBkm_HTfL0/s400/girls+bedroom+white+expedit+toy+book+storage.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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While I'm banging on about how I have organised the toys I'll show you the two baby Expedits in their rooms. My daughters are top and my sons are on the bottom. Couldn't be without them!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SxrCowMa82M/UQU6qcFetUI/AAAAAAAACHw/49FH-eJwFsk/s1600/girls+bedroom+toys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SxrCowMa82M/UQU6qcFetUI/AAAAAAAACHw/49FH-eJwFsk/s400/girls+bedroom+toys.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My daughter's room is actually a good size, so she has the space to keep additional things, like her dressing table and her dolls' house. My son's room is the third boxroom bedroom, so it's pretty small. Once he gets big enough we will get him some sort of cabin bed type of solution.<br />
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Last but not least, here's the toy box. It currently holds all the millions of teddies they have accumulated, but I am considering bringing it downstairs and using it to keep their dressing up clothes in. I'm undecided.<br />
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I hope you've enjoyed being nosy at my toy organising solutions. I have, as always, enjoyed sharing these ideas with you. I know these solutions are not as design-savvy or as clever as some of the things I have seen on the interwebz, but they work for us and they work well. At least for now anyway. You know how it is with organising - it's an ongoing process!<br />
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(You might have noticed you got a sneaky of dearest daughter's new bedroom. I've got a few finishing touches to do before I am ready to show you in yet, but I am excited! I love this room!)Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-62291748956574281522012-11-27T19:52:00.000+00:002020-03-28T13:56:41.185+00:00Not Achieved Much This Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had hoped to be able to show you the playroom or the rest of the Big Unit. Or even my nice newly decluttered kitchen nightmare spot. These are all the things that were next on my list to do. However, this week has flown by with barely a chance to flick a duster about! <br />
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This is what chaos looks like. Yes, my son is wearing a hat and purple gloves inside. What of it? ;)<br />
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You might wonder why on earth I am showing you these embarrassing photos of our home in disarray. Well, bloggers, I want to prove to you that this really is a journey for me. None of us here are naturally tidy. We are all bloody messy to the extreme! Our home is clean because although I don't enjoy it, I always <i>do </i>it. However, i just can't learn to see the small messes until they turn into huge catastrophic messes like these!<br />
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The worst of all rooms is the hallway. I dump things there when I come in the house and I dump things there that the kids aren't supposed to touch because there is a stair gate stopping them from getting in. I dump things that I mean to take upstairs with me next time I go and I dump things that need to leave the house with us when we go out. It's a general dump, as you can see.<br />
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These are the main reason I hate winter. I can tolerate the cold weather and the miserably short, bleak days to an extent, but I cannot stand having washing all over the house 24/7. I used to have a pretty good system, but then we gave the kids a playroom and that meant sacrificing my efficient and very effective inside clothes drying strategy. I really do need a new solution before it drives me mental.<br />
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So, let me just fart out the contents of my brain in relation to where i need to go next with this project... In no particular order...<br />
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I need to finalise the Big Unit organisation including,<br />
<ol>
<li>Declutter and organise CD's</li>
<li>Arrange the open shelving so that it doesn't look like the bric a brac shelf in a charity shop</li>
<li>Stop piling things on top of it, it looks horrendous, especially when you look in our front window from the street!</li>
<li>Use the empty spaces - drawers, top left cupboard</li>
</ol>
The kitchen needs decluttering really badly. The surfaces are so full of junk I have forgotten what the worktops look like.<br />
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Arrange the living room furniture so that it doesn't look like a corridor.<br />
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Decorate daughter's bedroom pink! :)<br />
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Finish the playroom.<br />
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Paint the internal doors. It's been forever!<br />
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Put some photos in my photo frames. It's not a design statement, it's just lazy.<br />
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Do finishing touches in the master bedroom - art on other walls and cushions.<br />
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I can have this all done by Christmas, right?!<br />
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<br />Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-70528102899585286432012-11-14T14:41:00.000+00:002020-03-28T13:53:55.265+00:00I've Been Featured!I can't tell you how excited I am to have been featured for the first time. Not once, but <b>twice!</b> I swear to you now I was sat right here with my husband next to me and when I saw I let out a massive "YEY!" and both arms shot straight up in the air. Both times. Honestly! My husband wondered what the heck was going on and the kids jumped out of their skins!<br />
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So now I get to have "I've Been Featured" buttons! I feel all proper now! I'm going to have them in my sidebar and everything.<br />
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Apart from feeling like a real live blogger, those features have validated the work I have done so far. It's such a boost and a wonderful motivator for me to keep going. So thank you so much to Pamela at <a href="http://becolorful.typepad.com/">BeColorful</a> and to Leanne at <a href="http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/">Organize and Decorate Everything</a>. I am honoured to have been featured by you both, and really, really giddy too!
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Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-48939643744187189842012-11-11T16:24:00.001+00:002020-03-28T13:52:59.266+00:00Hidden Mini Home Office - In An Ikea Besta Unit <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Can you remember Big Unit? Well, we have now moved our home office-y type of things inside it. Like so...<br />
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This was born out of necessity really. We used to have a full room for an <a href="http://www.home-organisation.co.uk/2011/01/craft-room-guitar-room-home-office.html" target="_blank">office space which housed a desk and all of my crafting things</a>. I would craft in there and I would also work from home (before I was made redundant - boo!) Now obviously we don't need the office space for me to work at my now none existent job, and I haven't done any crafting in a looooooong time.<br />
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The room which was once the office is currently being cleared out to make way for the kids' things. Sigh. These blinking kids take over don't they?! :) More on that later though. I am sure I will let you know how that transformation goes.<br />
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So this is what the inside of this cupboard looked like only a couple of days ago.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPJVy1aNmW8/UJ-X5nqjJAI/AAAAAAAABVs/l0_lU2m-0Hk/s1600/Ikea+Besta+Home+Office+Before+Declutter+and+Reorganise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPJVy1aNmW8/UJ-X5nqjJAI/AAAAAAAABVs/l0_lU2m-0Hk/s400/Ikea+Besta+Home+Office+Before+Declutter+and+Reorganise.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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AAAAAHHHH!!!! Does that make your eyes itch? It does mine.<br />
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The top shelf held some of the kiddos crafting supplies, and the bottom space was home to my husband's gibble. It was never really planned that way particularly. We just needed to put glue up high out of their reach and my dearest husband decided that he needed to put his deodorant on and his contact lenses in while standing at the Big Unit. As you do.<br />
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I cleared away all of that stuff and gave the shelves a good old clean. The crafting things are in a box in the old office just waiting to be re-homed somewhere more sensible, and my husband's gear has been stored somewhere more appropriate.<br />
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Here's what it looks like now!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TV9OGzrNBuY/UJ-XsA4gSHI/AAAAAAAABUs/hl9rxFSeOlU/s1600/After+photo+of+decluttered+mini+home+office+space.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TV9OGzrNBuY/UJ-XsA4gSHI/AAAAAAAABUs/hl9rxFSeOlU/s400/After+photo+of+decluttered+mini+home+office+space.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Proud as punch I am! Let me go through everything with you.</div>
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Starting top left...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SybKfVz0a4s/UJ-XvmKohkI/AAAAAAAABU8/z6EB4uJ9UAk/s1600/Hidden+Home+Office+Organisation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SybKfVz0a4s/UJ-XvmKohkI/AAAAAAAABU8/z6EB4uJ9UAk/s400/Hidden+Home+Office+Organisation.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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These drawers used to sit on my desk for crafting bits and pieces in.<a href="http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/office+stationery/icat/officestationery/" target="_blank"> I bought them from Wilkinsons</a>. Although I'm pretty sure they don't do these same ones anymore. However, they might do something similar.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJBz8dFiUb4/UJ-YCqF6yqI/AAAAAAAABWU/aU1PDMImwYE/s1600/Wilkinsons+stationery+drawers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJBz8dFiUb4/UJ-YCqF6yqI/AAAAAAAABWU/aU1PDMImwYE/s400/Wilkinsons+stationery+drawers.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pretty AND functional. I keep my clips, pins, Tippex, date stamp, USB pens and blu take, etc in there. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0G5vcrp_1yE/UJ-X8x_GhbI/AAAAAAAABV8/CdCsD8sjRik/s1600/Ikea+kassett+magazine+files+labelled+for+storage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0G5vcrp_1yE/UJ-X8x_GhbI/AAAAAAAABV8/CdCsD8sjRik/s400/Ikea+kassett+magazine+files+labelled+for+storage.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I made practical labels for my magazine files (from Ikea - Kassett i think). I had a huge stack of magazines in the cupboard opposite.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lXNeELDQqBM/UJ-YA3cVjRI/AAAAAAAABWM/WWFab0Anmyo/s1600/Stacks+of+old+magazines.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lXNeELDQqBM/UJ-YA3cVjRI/AAAAAAAABWM/WWFab0Anmyo/s400/Stacks+of+old+magazines.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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So I thinned them down, choosing only magazines dated within the last few months, or those with particular articles or tutorials I am interested in. </div>
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The current projects file contains paperwork for whatever project we happen to be focusing on right now. Then the Address and Birthdays file has my birthdays book, my address book and any greetings cards I have waiting. There is one spare magazine file with nothing in it. I am sure it won't be empty for long though!</div>
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To the right of those are a few books and a super cute pen pot.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zchjrsqr2Lg/UJ-X2UIB4_I/AAAAAAAABVc/ydYYE93P9ns/s1600/Home+office+in+a+really+small+space.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zchjrsqr2Lg/UJ-X2UIB4_I/AAAAAAAABVc/ydYYE93P9ns/s400/Home+office+in+a+really+small+space.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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The pen pot was also from the Wilkinsons Nostalgia range of stationery supplies. <a href="http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/search?q=*&parentCategoryRef=nostalgia" target="_blank">I love that whole range, it's so pretty</a>!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSkW1sjeN7w/UJ-XuP_p1II/AAAAAAAABU0/3fG8_5T7AWk/s1600/Family+organising+calendar+from+wilkinsons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSkW1sjeN7w/UJ-XuP_p1II/AAAAAAAABU0/3fG8_5T7AWk/s400/Family+organising+calendar+from+wilkinsons.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Guess where my family organiser calendar was from? Wilkinsons - you got it! Can you tell I love that shop, almost as much as I love Ikea? The calendar doesn't start until January and I need to go through it and add all the important dates, but for now, it just looks cute. I used a calendar hook from Wilkos too and it was really simple to stick on. The instructions said to wait 24 hours before hanging on it, but I got excited and did it right away. It seems to be holding well. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYvZX6PsHT8/UJ-X0UTVXuI/AAAAAAAABVU/T7X2E1toT30/s1600/Hidden+mini+home+office+in+cupboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYvZX6PsHT8/UJ-X0UTVXuI/AAAAAAAABVU/T7X2E1toT30/s400/Hidden+mini+home+office+in+cupboard.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Okay, so here's the bottom shelf. The "catch all" box is where we throw all those things that you can't be bothered to deal with straight away. Previously everything used to land in two wicker baskets on the open shelving. That was okay, but it was too out in the open. I really need to keep that kind of thing hidden away. No one wants to be confronted by a display of take away menus, till receipts and wires when they come visiting. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ9kggnJ20U/UJ-YEuxz-sI/AAAAAAAABWc/gdky-9jJ-AE/s1600/clutter+that+accumulates+in+the+home.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ9kggnJ20U/UJ-YEuxz-sI/AAAAAAAABWc/gdky-9jJ-AE/s400/clutter+that+accumulates+in+the+home.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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See? No one needs to be seeing that.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MQhdUXGaIVc/UJ-X4MksVoI/AAAAAAAABVk/RXI7I6UceWs/s1600/Home+paperwork+and+clutter+catch+all+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MQhdUXGaIVc/UJ-X4MksVoI/AAAAAAAABVk/RXI7I6UceWs/s400/Home+paperwork+and+clutter+catch+all+box.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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As you can see I am not too good at stamping, but I put the wording on here myself none the less. I am telling myself I kinda like the crazy, splodged look... </div>
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The black folder you can see behind the box is where I keep receipts. I dump them all in here out of my purse and out of the catch-all box every now and again. Then periodically I will go through and throw away all the ones I no longer need. Neat!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ljxO9CpomBE/UJ-X7TSqYvI/AAAAAAAABV0/bBqpBUo8y18/s1600/Ikea+Kassett+boxes+labelled+for+storage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ljxO9CpomBE/UJ-X7TSqYvI/AAAAAAAABV0/bBqpBUo8y18/s400/Ikea+Kassett+boxes+labelled+for+storage.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Lastly, but by no means least. Here is where I keep my spare office folders (punched pockets, presentation folders, etc), my gift wrap supplies (sheet wrap, tags, tissue paper) and my printer supplies (ink, sheet labels, paper). </div>
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And that concludes the tour of our shiny new hidden home office space. I know it's compact, but it works for us right now. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TV9OGzrNBuY/UJ-XsA4gSHI/AAAAAAAABUs/hl9rxFSeOlU/s1600/After+photo+of+decluttered+mini+home+office+space.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TV9OGzrNBuY/UJ-XsA4gSHI/AAAAAAAABUs/hl9rxFSeOlU/s400/After+photo+of+decluttered+mini+home+office+space.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And because i like em, here's a before and after...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ea-1yUaRmA4/UJ-XwvoU4TI/AAAAAAAABVE/XbvQP6Iej0M/s1600/Hidden+Mini+Home+Office+Declutter+and+Organise+Before+and+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ea-1yUaRmA4/UJ-XwvoU4TI/AAAAAAAABVE/XbvQP6Iej0M/s1600/Hidden+Mini+Home+Office+Declutter+and+Organise+Before+and+After.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thanks so much for visiting me! </div>
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I've linked up to these super parties:</div>
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<a href="http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2012/11/one-project-at-a-time-111312.html" target="_blank">A Bowl Full Of Lemons - One Project at a Time</a><br />
<a href="http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/11/wednesdays-adorned-from-above-link_14.html" target="_blank">Adorned From Above - Wednesdays Link Party</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theartsygirlconnection.com/" target="_blank">The Artsygirl Connection - Pinspirational Thursdays</a><br />
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Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-75250469911218830402012-11-08T14:50:00.000+00:002020-03-28T13:44:14.381+00:00Storage Problem - We Have Too Much Of It!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IF4AI5jKrOc/UJvDP9onkAI/AAAAAAAABUQ/EQGIXhL9qtA/s1600/Too+much+living+room+storage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IF4AI5jKrOc/UJvDP9onkAI/AAAAAAAABUQ/EQGIXhL9qtA/s400/Too+much+living+room+storage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I know what you're thinking... How can a family of four possibly have too much storage?! Well, it is an integral part of my nature to be pragmatic. Especially when buying furniture. That's why I love Ikea so much! It's cheap, because what's the point in spending lots of money on beautiful furniture pieces that will likely end up crayoned on? But, I also like it because the furniture is so functional. I never buy anything without first considering how much stuff we can hide in it.<br />
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Because of this, I have ended up with lots of empty drawers in the living room. Storage in the living room presents a problem anyway, as I can only store things here which are child friendly. My kids are old enough now that I leave them playing in the living room while I cook in the kitchen next door or run some laundry upstairs. We all know how little time it takes for kids to wreak havoc on some fun new "toy" they just found.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-au9jC3pAdX4/UJvB-dCdnHI/AAAAAAAABUI/nJv0vnKdcpU/s1600/Stag+Minstrel+Bureau+Storage+Solutions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-au9jC3pAdX4/UJvB-dCdnHI/AAAAAAAABUI/nJv0vnKdcpU/s400/Stag+Minstrel+Bureau+Storage+Solutions.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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I'd really like to store my wrapping and parcel papers in the long drawers of this bureau. Those little drawers would be perfect for pens and tape, and the drop-down section could hold stationery, cards, and things. Can you imagine the fun the kids would have with that?! For now, one drawer keeps our fleece blankets and throws neat, because although it is irritating to have to fold blankets several times a day it's a better option than trying to re-roll paper onto a dented telescope.. erm... megaphone... erm... paper roll.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0XyuFcwvpCg/UJvB9IJxWrI/AAAAAAAABUA/USwUn3zZ9d8/s1600/Ikea+Expedit+White+Branas+Baskets+Sideboard+Storage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0XyuFcwvpCg/UJvB9IJxWrI/AAAAAAAABUA/USwUn3zZ9d8/s400/Ikea+Expedit+White+Branas+Baskets+Sideboard+Storage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The wicker baskets in this IKEA Expedit would hold lots of things, but the kids frequently go in there and pull out their contents. So, for now, they just hold bibs, scruffs, mopping up towels and hats and scarves. Half of them are empty and a couple only have one or two things in there.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QL3rUAo3ag/UJvFHQ3GkoI/AAAAAAAABUY/MHn14i9mqLc/s1600/2x2+expedit+skubb+toy+storage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QL3rUAo3ag/UJvFHQ3GkoI/AAAAAAAABUY/MHn14i9mqLc/s320/2x2+expedit+skubb+toy+storage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Expedit number two holds some of the kids' toys. We used to have all their toys in the living room, but we changed that for our sanity. I'll talk about that later.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cwpXqF4I5ck/UJvB7F89z5I/AAAAAAAABT4/a2cZCafvDl4/s1600/Ikea+Besta+Big+Large+Brown+TV+Unit+Cupboards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cwpXqF4I5ck/UJvB7F89z5I/AAAAAAAABT4/a2cZCafvDl4/s320/Ikea+Besta+Big+Large+Brown+TV+Unit+Cupboards.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lastly, we have the "Big Unit". My relationship with Big Unit is a love/hate one. I love that we can store things up high out of the children's reach and I love that no one can see what clutter lies behind those doors until they open them. I hate it because it is massive and dark and takes over the room. It's also a clutter attractamatron. <b>Everything </b>gets put here. I am working on a solution to that though, which I am pretty excited about.<br />
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So my mission of the moment is to streamline the things we have in these cupboards already - I am sure there is a TON that can be relocated or thrown away. Then I will work on finding childproof items to store here which will free up space elsewhere. It may not be ergonomically ideal, but I guess you have to make concessions when you have young kids.<br />
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Thanks for reading and please feel free to let me know what you store in <i>your </i>family living room.<br />
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I linked up to <a href="http://missmustardseed.com/2012/11/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-a-link-party-13/" target="_blank">Furniture Feature Friday</a>Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-82078891883952493952012-11-06T16:11:00.000+00:002020-03-28T13:40:11.689+00:00Master Bedroom Makeover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFuxhNtQPg8/UJkn29BDv6I/AAAAAAAABSs/KQ_Ja4lAeYQ/s1600/Master+Bedroom+Makeover+Before+and+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFuxhNtQPg8/UJkn29BDv6I/AAAAAAAABSs/KQ_Ja4lAeYQ/s400/Master+Bedroom+Makeover+Before+and+After.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You know, I have been giving myself an altogether hard time thinking about what I haven't been doing to get this house of ours organised. The other day I sat here and read my previous blog entries and looked at the photos and do you know what? I <i>have </i>been busy! I've done <b>loads</b>!<br />
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This year has been a hugely busy one with my husband being made redundant and then going self-employed. We were going to move for a job for him and then we decided not to. We have also aaaaaalmost finished an investment property we bought and that was a massive project to tackle and something we've never done before. Oh, and not forgetting the care of our two kiddos of course! So yeah, I need to stop being so hard on myself. I am trying really hard and actually achieving a lot. It's just not everything... Yet.<br />
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So anyhoo! I have our master bedroom redo to show you and I love how it turned out. First of all, I will show you the before photos.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNsXK4eAA0I/UJkmqzPndaI/AAAAAAAABRk/Ya0E56Au3HE/s1600/Master+bedroom+before+makeover+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNsXK4eAA0I/UJkmqzPndaI/AAAAAAAABRk/Ya0E56Au3HE/s400/Master+bedroom+before+makeover+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5VCw7KdL1jc/UJkmtOAdSKI/AAAAAAAABR0/CM31SBaa64Q/s1600/Master+bedroom+before+makeover+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5VCw7KdL1jc/UJkmtOAdSKI/AAAAAAAABR0/CM31SBaa64Q/s400/Master+bedroom+before+makeover+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We kept all the same furniture, but just changed up the soft furnishings and repainted. I moved the bed to the opposite wall too. It sits much better over that side I think. The paint is Dulux - Perfectly Taupe. I will have to control myself in order to NOT paint the rest of the house this colour!!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M8oJnGwr178/UJknz6MAZYI/AAAAAAAABSk/XO35ccAakw0/s1600/Master+Bedroom+Dulux+Perfectly+Taupe+Paint+Yellow+Accents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M8oJnGwr178/UJknz6MAZYI/AAAAAAAABSk/XO35ccAakw0/s400/Master+Bedroom+Dulux+Perfectly+Taupe+Paint+Yellow+Accents.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lEO2RUtmSqw/UJknvok-mlI/AAAAAAAABSM/iG-LTdspFOE/s1600/Ikea+Pax+Wardrobes+Hemnes+Bedside+Tables+Bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lEO2RUtmSqw/UJknvok-mlI/AAAAAAAABSM/iG-LTdspFOE/s400/Ikea+Pax+Wardrobes+Hemnes+Bedside+Tables+Bedroom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love our massive bed. It's an Ikea king size, so it's really huge. It does mean that I am limited in my furniture arrangement, even though our bedroom is pretty big for a British house. However, the sacrifice is worth it for the comfort and wriggle room during sleep time.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2KJIgQF6-B8/UJkmpkM9keI/AAAAAAAABRc/nUGO76xddgQ/s1600/Master+bedroom+before+makeover+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2KJIgQF6-B8/UJkmpkM9keI/AAAAAAAABRc/nUGO76xddgQ/s400/Master+bedroom+before+makeover+2.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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We also had the ceiling re-boarded then replastered and cornicing added. All the ceilings upstairs were pine-clad boards and absolutely vile. Underneath we found they were all woodchip, so we just had to re-board and plaster rather than just skim. This was the last room that needed this done, so that's a job completely ticked off the list. We couldn't afford to do every ceiling at once, so we've been doing them as we redecorated each space.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxWs3GZDqiE/UJkn4BgglrI/AAAAAAAABS0/qxc3IAXsbsc/s1600/Plastered+Ceiling+with+Cornicing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxWs3GZDqiE/UJkn4BgglrI/AAAAAAAABS0/qxc3IAXsbsc/s400/Plastered+Ceiling+with+Cornicing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These ginormous Ikea Pax wardrobes took over the whole length of one wall.<a href="http://www.home-organisation.co.uk/2011/03/wardrobe-decluttering.html" target="_blank"> I posted about them on here before.</a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0lUO07-KqA8/UJkmsDNdc3I/AAAAAAAABRs/FZx1I0ExlWQ/s1600/Master+bedroom+before+makeover+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0lUO07-KqA8/UJkmsDNdc3I/AAAAAAAABRs/FZx1I0ExlWQ/s400/Master+bedroom+before+makeover+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I decluttered the inside of them so that I could get rid of the unit on the end. It really opens the room up, and you no longer have to breath in when you come through the door!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--A_u01S4UUw/UJknuXFdxVI/AAAAAAAABSE/mcNr26XIu4s/s1600/Ikea+Pax+Wardrobes+Grey+Bedroom+Walls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--A_u01S4UUw/UJknuXFdxVI/AAAAAAAABSE/mcNr26XIu4s/s400/Ikea+Pax+Wardrobes+Grey+Bedroom+Walls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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More or less everything is from Ikea. I adore the place! The bedding, knitted throw, and curtains are from there and most of the furniture with a couple of exceptions I'll show you.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHhKD4P4Vbc/UJkns94uBHI/AAAAAAAABR8/ghzeUDoQBCA/s1600/British+Bedroom+Decor+Blog+Ideas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHhKD4P4Vbc/UJkns94uBHI/AAAAAAAABR8/ghzeUDoQBCA/s400/British+Bedroom+Decor+Blog+Ideas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The chest of drawers was actually left in our first house by the previous owners. We even found old 70's photos of a woman sunbathing topless hidden underneath the drawer lining!! I thought about painting it, but I wanted some wood finish in here to bring some warmth into the room. I don't like the handles, which aren't the original ones. I put cheapo Ikea handles on a few years ago and they just don't go. I will buy some to match the wardrobe handles when I next do an Ikea run.</div>
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I also want to put something on this blank wall... Maybe frame some of the yellow fabric I have used as an accent. Or maybe some old plates or something. Don't know yet.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bTTHfhAZELs/UJkn6-DxvNI/AAAAAAAABTE/rTmquMr3QFA/s1600/Vintage+Chest+Of+Drawers+Glass+Inlay+Fabric+Underneath+Bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bTTHfhAZELs/UJkn6-DxvNI/AAAAAAAABTE/rTmquMr3QFA/s400/Vintage+Chest+Of+Drawers+Glass+Inlay+Fabric+Underneath+Bedroom.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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Here's a close up of the dresser top. I used a lovely yellow fabric laid underneath a piece of glass I had cut. It's a lot cleaner and easier to wipe down when I get makeup on there.</div>
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Check out these cute little ceramic hearts...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A_UlYvkgrUg/UJknwxzxO0I/AAAAAAAABSU/GPI5XN3KAc4/s1600/Love+Hope+Dream+Ceramic+Mini+White+Hearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A_UlYvkgrUg/UJknwxzxO0I/AAAAAAAABSU/GPI5XN3KAc4/s400/Love+Hope+Dream+Ceramic+Mini+White+Hearts.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Love them! :)<br />
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Oh, and I needed something to go with the drawers, so I picked up this old chair at a charity shop for only £5. It was really easy to recover the seat pad using the same yellow fabric from the top of the drawers.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TEZD2NFWukc/UJkn5Qa-rZI/AAAAAAAABS8/4bbloo4cyQ0/s1600/Vintage+Chair+Seat+Pad+Recovered+Yellow+Fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TEZD2NFWukc/UJkn5Qa-rZI/AAAAAAAABS8/4bbloo4cyQ0/s320/Vintage+Chair+Seat+Pad+Recovered+Yellow+Fabric.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Well, that's all! Like I said, there are still some finishing touches to be made, but on the whole, I'm really pleased! Here's a recap...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TEIVMC2dkHw/UJk0WSV4GAI/AAAAAAAABTU/T9sfxQEAxoI/s1600/Bedroom+Makeover+Collage+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TEIVMC2dkHw/UJk0WSV4GAI/AAAAAAAABTU/T9sfxQEAxoI/s1600/Bedroom+Makeover+Collage+Photo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://too-much-time.com/2012/11/get-schooled-saturday-47.html" target="_blank">Too Much Time - Get Schooled Saturday</a><br />
<a href="http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2012/11/saturday-seven-party-no-50.html" target="_blank">Positively Splendid - Saturday Seven</a><br />
<a href="http://www.iheartnaptime.net/" target="_blank">I Heart Naptime - Sundae Scoop Link Party</a><br />
<a href="http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/pumpkins-galore-and-pretty-soon-no-more-features.html" target="_blank">Debbiedoos - Newbies Party</a></form>
Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-43781851856691824492012-11-01T12:10:00.000+00:002020-03-28T13:33:48.416+00:00Drying Laundry Indoors & Dehumidifiers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JyCIAFwjMIQ/UJJZdFgRkgI/AAAAAAAABP4/K-LplpEza8M/s1600/Dehumidifier+after+drying+one+load+of+laundry+washing+indoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JyCIAFwjMIQ/UJJZdFgRkgI/AAAAAAAABP4/K-LplpEza8M/s400/Dehumidifier+after+drying+one+load+of+laundry+washing+indoors.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We all know that when it gets to this time of year our houses can't help but become more humid. We dry clothes indoors on clothes horses and radiators and all the while keep our windows closed to conserve heat. This leads to visible condensation on walls and windows and a growth in that icky black mold.<br />
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Having a family means that we do a <b>lot </b>of laundry. Like maybe 15+ loads per week. You can imagine the amount of water that 15 loads of washing might give off. Or can you...? Based on how frequently I empty our dehumidifier I guessed that we might get one litre for every 2/3 loads. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oKQ2-8ho66A/UJJZfoM618I/AAAAAAAABQI/sWSRaqzVkuY/s1600/Dehumidifier+before+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oKQ2-8ho66A/UJJZfoM618I/AAAAAAAABQI/sWSRaqzVkuY/s400/Dehumidifier+before+picture.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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This is our trusty electric dehumidifier. We got it from amazon and it's this one: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Delonghi-148110002-DeLonghi-Compact-Dehumidifier/dp/B000BP81DW/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1351769301&sr=1-1" target="_blank">De'Longhi DEM10 Compact Dehumidifier</a>. This photo shows it's empty, but the container holds two litres of water.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--OMFF7ddRk8/UJJZhRjr6tI/AAAAAAAABQQ/Gpnbvk0iXos/s1600/IMG_2025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--OMFF7ddRk8/UJJZhRjr6tI/AAAAAAAABQQ/Gpnbvk0iXos/s400/IMG_2025.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Here's my one load of washing.<br />
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I left the dehumidifier on for a total of 6 hours. It was on four hours in the evening, then turned off overnight and I put it on for two hours the next morning. The washing was pretty much dry by that point. What I usually do is put anything that's a bit damp still or feels a bit cold onto the radiators for a bit just to finish it off. Or if it's something that needs ironing usually the iron takes the cold off it anyway. </div>
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You are probably thinking that 6 hours is a long time, but don't forget that I usually have two loads of drying together. I'm not sure whether the liquid is pulled out of the air faster, maybe not but it doesn't take twice the time to dry. I know that much. Also, when not using a dehumidifier I have had laundry sitting on clothes horses for DAYS without drying completely. </div>
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I wanted to know how energy efficient these machines are and whether using one is cheaper than drying in a tumble drier. From my internet research (thank you Google!) I have learned that this machine will use only 0.35 KWh. A tumble dryer uses 3 KWh, which equates to about 30-40p per hour. </div>
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Now, this requires a bit of maths, so excuse me while I make a cup of tea...</div>
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Okay. Better. To completely dry a load of washing in a tumble drier let's say it takes an hour. It doesn't for ours, because the drier only holds about half a wash load, but for simplicity's sake, lets assume it takes the whole load and dries it in an hour. Let's also assume that it is safe to dry everything you wash in the tumble drier. That would cost 40p on the topside. </div>
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If each load of washing takes 6 hours of dehumidifier time we can work out that it would cost a total of... 28p. Or thereabouts. I think. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y2zHJwg9tgk/UJJZeY2QwhI/AAAAAAAABQA/_C31EdoTO2k/s1600/Dehumidifier+after+drying+one+load+of+laundry+washing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y2zHJwg9tgk/UJJZeY2QwhI/AAAAAAAABQA/_C31EdoTO2k/s400/Dehumidifier+after+drying+one+load+of+laundry+washing.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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It's not a huge difference, granted. BUT, you can dry everything in one go without risking shrinkage. Plus, the cost isn't the main reason we use one. We could dry everything indoors without a dehumidifier, but it would take a lot longer and we would have loads and loads of condensation.<br />
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The photo above shows the result of those 6 hours dehumidifying. My inner geek wanted to know exactly how much liquid was sucked out of my office where the clothes were drying and so I took the water and measured it. A total of... ::drumroll:: 3 3/4 pints or 900ml. Gasp! I guess I was way off in my estimate of 1 liter per 2 or 3 loads.<br />
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Can you imagine if all that liquid was just floating about in the air each week? At 15 loads we could have over 13 litres (7 gallons) of water <i>per week</i> being let into the air in our home. Clinging to our windows and walls and causing that horrid black mold!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6RarC3yXs3c/UJJd1vu4ucI/AAAAAAAABQo/2Kr1h9kx4WY/s1600/placement+of+dehumidifier+and+laundry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6RarC3yXs3c/UJJd1vu4ucI/AAAAAAAABQo/2Kr1h9kx4WY/s400/placement+of+dehumidifier+and+laundry.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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It's actually a really simple set up too. The clothes horses are kept in the office, which makes the enclosed space easier for the dehumidifier to work in. The description says it's good for an area of up to 45m2, so great for most average sized rooms I would imagine.<br />
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And, as if that wasn't enough to sell it to you, you can keep the water you get out to use in your iron! It's demineralised so you won't get limescale. :)<br />
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Let me know how you dry your clothes at this time of year! Do you use one of these? Or something better?Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-1914875094853487412012-10-20T13:25:00.000+01:002020-03-28T13:27:16.563+00:00Pinterest Kids Activity - Tested. Cloud Dough.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18YtiyK7E94/UG9AZr5UXJI/AAAAAAAABNM/M5-x_u0osso/s1600/Pinterest+Cloud+Dough+Kids+Activity+Tested.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18YtiyK7E94/UG9AZr5UXJI/AAAAAAAABNM/M5-x_u0osso/s640/Pinterest+Cloud+Dough+Kids+Activity+Tested.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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So, anyone with Pinterest fetish - like me - will have tons of things they have pinned and fully intend to actually DO later. I have zillions. There are some really cool looking kids activities on there and I gave up pinning them a while ago because I already had so many that I hadn't attempted yet.<br />
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One that stuck in my mind (mainly because I already had an out of date bag of flour and some baby oil) was the "Cloud Dough" one. Apparently, this cloud dough is meant to be, "A wonderful sensory activity for children."<br />
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"Fair enough." I thought, "Let's have a bash!"<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CO-iJUUz3oQ/UG9A0WAOyiI/AAAAAAAABNU/bxzUppKCOxg/s1600/IMG_1797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CO-iJUUz3oQ/UG9A0WAOyiI/AAAAAAAABNU/bxzUppKCOxg/s400/IMG_1797.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I made the executive decision to mix the ingredients myself. You never know how these things are going to turn out and I didn't want the kids to feel an invested interest at the point before I have to tell them it's a sticky mess that needs to be thrown away. I could imagine their heartbroken faces.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hIGjPcJIqE/UG9A5ZMzvII/AAAAAAAABNc/oWyP1fe5aUk/s1600/IMG_1800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hIGjPcJIqE/UG9A5ZMzvII/AAAAAAAABNc/oWyP1fe5aUk/s400/IMG_1800.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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So this is what it looks like. It does indeed feel like flour and it does indeed have moulding potential.<br />
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When the kids play I basically just leave them to it. I gave up trying to get them to play in a controlled manner a long time ago. They are happiest when left to their own devices with me working on my own little bit of the activity alongside them.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dSTqFhvaR0g/UG9BCGC5BCI/AAAAAAAABNs/9w6PnFGMwiA/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dSTqFhvaR0g/UG9BCGC5BCI/AAAAAAAABNs/9w6PnFGMwiA/s400/IMG_1802.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I think they enjoyed it. I built a few walls and made a few cup "sandcastles" but to be honest, it has its limits.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5npLpJ10-Kg/UG9BH8sl_gI/AAAAAAAABN0/q4IHxLNUfZk/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5npLpJ10-Kg/UG9BH8sl_gI/AAAAAAAABN0/q4IHxLNUfZk/s400/IMG_1807.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Youngest ate it. Let's face it, the kid eats anything. He sits on a beach chowing down on sand like he's at an all you can eat breakfast buffet. So flour and baby oil? Gourmet!<br />
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Now. When looking at a new kids' activity I usually want to know these three things.<br />
How long does it take to set up?<br />
How long do the kids actually play with it?<br />
How long does it take to clean it up afterwards?<br />
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Basically, the middle item is a gauge of enjoyment. The longer the kids play, I figure the more they are enjoying themselves. The other two have to balance with this to make it worth it.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiMxDFD0oYI/UG9BLa-XJfI/AAAAAAAABOI/bk_K6BDiTAc/s1600/IMG_1811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiMxDFD0oYI/UG9BLa-XJfI/AAAAAAAABOI/bk_K6BDiTAc/s640/IMG_1811.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Well, let's just say that things didn't quite balance out right for this Pinterest activity. It took me about 5 minutes to set it up. Not bad. The kids played for 15 minutes. Hmmm, not so great. Especially when you consider that they had started getting bored by around the 7-minute mark. It didn't take long for them to spread out the mess. You can tell when boredom sets in by the way they begin to push the boundaries of what they know to be the proper, acceptable way to play with the toy or activity.<br />
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By 15 minutes they had given up on it and wandered into the living room leaving a white trail of cloud dough footprints (which are considerably less fluffy than the name suggests). They asked me to put the TV on.<br />
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It took me 30 minutes to sweep up and wipe down afterwards. It was all over the kids' faces, clothes, the floor, the walls, chairs, table, living room carpet... And in case you're thinking, "Hey, look she put down the hoover and staged a photo with it next to the footprints!" No. Our hoover actually lives right there. In the living room. I hoover that often - through actual necessity - that the hoover remains within easy reach at all times.<br />
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Let's do the maths... 5 minutes set up plus 30 minutes clearing up = 35 minutes of non-fun mummy prep and tidy time next to the 15 minutes of actual playtime. Hmmmm.... I don't think we will be doing this one again until the summer. Then they can do it outside. But, then again. I think I will just get them a bag of sand.Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-44389049713691863232011-12-06T14:05:00.001+00:002020-03-28T13:17:04.310+00:00My Kids Art WallWell, I know this has been a long time in the making, but I am finally able to post something here and it's something that I am head to toe proud of! You know that thing where you form an idea inside your mind's eye that you just know has a good chance of being impossible (or too expensive) to create? Well, I did that with this.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WsDP8FjtWA/TlX-CqAqezI/AAAAAAAAA_U/WQWoxSm-ClU/s1600/20110824+blank+wall+in+kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WsDP8FjtWA/TlX-CqAqezI/AAAAAAAAA_U/WQWoxSm-ClU/s400/20110824+blank+wall+in+kitchen.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Remember the big purple wall in the kitchen? It had two frames up there as a "put me on" but I always envisioned it being a space where we could hang all the kids' art. Our appliances are all integrated, including the fridge, so all their pictures were being stuck to the extractor hood above the hob and it just looked a mess. Plus you couldn't see anything!<br />
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So, a bit of imagination, a huge load of luck, that trip to IKEA plus a couple of coats of paint and...<br />
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Huzzah!! I am so so so so pleased with it! The frame was a complete chance buy from eBay. I won it for the grand total of £1.04 and only had to pick it up from a nearby town. YEY! It was stained pine, but I painted it cause I prefer white.<br />
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The wires with the clips are from IKEA and they're called Deka. They're meant for curtains, but I've seen tons of bloggers use them for clipping up pictures and photos, etc, so I can't take credit for that idea.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wyd6smWX7SQ/Tt4hfhMseYI/AAAAAAAABIY/4RjMrWhe2lQ/s1600/Massive+childrens+kids+art+display+in+kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wyd6smWX7SQ/Tt4hfhMseYI/AAAAAAAABIY/4RjMrWhe2lQ/s400/Massive+childrens+kids+art+display+in+kitchen.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Had to rope in the hubby to do the hanging part, but this is a really sturdy external wall, so there are no fears about it not being able to hold the weight. Most other walls in the house are super flimsy partition wall types.<br />
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I know that I caved again to my "GET THE BIGGEST ONE YOU CAN FIND" instinct, but I think in this case it paid off. I love love love my children's new gallery space and they love it too!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nrUHtdTblHI/Tt4hcnxNG1I/AAAAAAAABII/8XTrId1zODw/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nrUHtdTblHI/Tt4hcnxNG1I/AAAAAAAABII/8XTrId1zODw/s400/IMG_0064.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Linking up to.....<br />
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<a href="http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="The DIY Show Off" border="0" src="http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac195/Roeshel/DIYShowOffbuttonsmall.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/lars72/733blog%20design%20images/WAW_BUTTON.png" /> </a><br />
<a href="http://www.thrifty101.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://www.bigbangdesign.com/thrifty101/DIY_thrifty101.gif" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.designdazzle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Design Dazzle" border="0" src="http://www.designdazzle.com/images/125x125.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2011/12/wow-us-wednesdays-43.html" target="_blank">Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays</a><br />
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<a href="http://orgjunkie.com/blog" target="_blank">Org Junkie's 52 Weeks of Organising </a>Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-29761298344806586102011-11-09T18:06:00.000+00:002020-03-26T18:07:16.166+00:00Monster Themed First Birthday Party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OV7TMI-tbXo/TpX06py3itI/AAAAAAAABHo/HkGtncmUAyo/s1600/Korbens+Happy+Birthday+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OV7TMI-tbXo/TpX06py3itI/AAAAAAAABHo/HkGtncmUAyo/s400/Korbens+Happy+Birthday+Sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I know I know! Youngest's birthday was over a month ago and I am only just writing about it here. My Mum has kindly chided me into updating my blog, so here I am. Thanks, Mum! :)<br />
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Youngest's birthday was lovely and he was lucky enough to have TWO parties to celebrate turning 1. The first party was on the day of his birthday and his friends and their mummies all came along.<br />
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I made a special Monster Cake, Monster party bags, Monster googly eye cups, and a Monster happy birthday banner. <br />
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The cake was yummy, even if I do say so myself and the inside was all multicoloured and Monstery. :)<br />
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The kids seemed to have fun running about, playing with toys, making a mess and eating their party food.</div>
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We all sang Happy Birthday to the little Mister...<br />
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And the birthday boy really, really loved the cake!<br />
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Once everyone had gone the house was in a spot of disarray.</div>
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But I wasn't worried as I had Eldest on hand to help clean up!</div>
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<br />Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-50582097740475615152011-08-25T08:32:00.000+01:002020-03-26T18:04:09.937+00:00Where do i (re)start?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I figured out that I was going about this all wrong. In order to get things done, but I mean really get them finished all the way to the end is to actually treat each thing as a project in itself. Simply attacking the whole house as one massive project isn't working.<br />
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The Prince2 textbook defines a project as, "<i>A management environment that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to a specified Business Case.</i>"<br />
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Well, I think that's far too formal and businessy for my application.<br />
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An alternative definition is, "<i>A temporary organisation that is needed to produce a unique and predefined outcome or result at a pre-specified time using predetermined resources.</i>"<br />
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I like that one. It's saying that you should decide the outcome, the timescale for completion and resources before you begin. Perhaps it's still a little too rigid for my purposes though. It should definitely be kept in mind, but this is my home. If I decide to splash out a little more money halfway through a project because I won a tenner on the lottery then that's what I shall do!<br />
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So I think I will just stick with the most simplistic definition I could find. From good old dictionary.com.<br />
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"<span id="hotword"><i><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">Something</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">that</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">is</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">contemplated,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">devised,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> </i><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><i>planned.</i>"</span></span><br />
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<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">There is enough vagueness in this explanation to afford me the flexibility I need here. I will be contemplating, devising and planning in earnest, but I am sure there will be scope creep and deadline readjustment every which way. I am not doing this for the end result in itself, but to enjoy the journey too. I know right... geek! I've never been the coolest of kids. </span></span><br />
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As I thought about this new approach and looked around, it became clear that I needed this strategised plan of attack for completing the jobs I have in mind. For starters I had no list to refer to, and no idea really what needs doing except that some things bug me still.<br />
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So, I took my trusty camera and snapped photos of all the areas as I came across them. This will help me to formulate my list and also provide the "before" snaps too.<br />
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My next post will be about sorting through my photographs and deciding the scope of each one and it's priority. <br />
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"></span></span>Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-19974896021100317442011-08-25T08:28:00.000+01:002020-03-26T18:01:53.099+00:00Project Planning - The Craft Room / Home Office / Guitar Room<span id="goog_928779080">Okay, so I have my compilation of photographs showing the areas I wanted to work on in my home. Well, the ones that came to mind as I was touring my house with the camera the other day. :)</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CRdzJkXdHxs/TlX5jYUEg_I/AAAAAAAAA_M/KBMt1MHDSv8/s1600/picasa+ones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CRdzJkXdHxs/TlX5jYUEg_I/AAAAAAAAA_M/KBMt1MHDSv8/s400/picasa+ones.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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What I really need to do is look at each photo separately and set out what needs to be done and the priority of the task. I should also maybe think about a budget, but I am aiming to spend as little as I can in each area. Probably a great reason to have a budget in itself!<br />
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<span id="goog_928779080">The first job that needs to be done is to organise the office/craft space. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UqCOWwZC_Y/TlX-bo4jyAI/AAAAAAAAA_s/Mj1SU-frqo0/s1600/20110824+cluttered+office+craft+space.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UqCOWwZC_Y/TlX-bo4jyAI/AAAAAAAAA_s/Mj1SU-frqo0/s400/20110824+cluttered+office+craft+space.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_928779080">Sigh. Remember how this <a href="http://www.home-organisation.co.uk/2011/01/craft-room-guitar-room-home-office.html">used to look</a>?</span><br />
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Well, life just kind of got in the way of keeping this room neat. That and the magical magnetic power it seems to have in attracting all of the homeless gibble from all over the house... Admittedly, this is a particularly messy day. The ironing board isn't usually there and neither are those clothes that you see piled up. I was having an ironing day.<br />
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<span id="goog_928779080">This room has to be tackled first because I am going back to work!! :) My boss has oh so kindly allowed me to work from home, which means that a) I can actually return to work at all, b) don't have to commute = less time and less money and c) I get to create a cute home-office space. YEY!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span id="goog_928779080">My deadline is 12th September. This is my first day back. </span><br />
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<span id="goog_928779080">I'm actually trying to source a better desk than the one I have in there at the moment. This one is very cheap in construction, so it is literally falling apart. You can see into the drawers from the back and if it needs to be moved, the top of the desk comes away from the bottom part. The structural integrity of this thing is like zero. Plus, as a workspace, it's teeny tiny. I need room to spread out!</span><br />
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<span id="goog_928779080">Sooo... From taking a look at my photo I can see what needs to be done:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span id="goog_928779080">Design a plan for the space with </span><span id="goog_928779080">working as a primary function and crafting/guitars as a secondary function.</span></li>
<li><span id="goog_928779080">Take out everything that doesn't belong in there - dining table & spare chairs etc.</span></li>
<li><span id="goog_928779080">Work out what needs to be stored in this space and that can move elsewhere.</span></li>
<li><span id="goog_928779080">Find storage solutions.</span></li>
<li><span id="goog_928779080">Replace the desk if at all possible.</span></li>
<li><span id="goog_928779080">Declutter all unused craft items to eBay and put funds in new camera savings fund or towards the new desk</span></li>
<li><span id="goog_928779080">Budget = as little as possible. Look in the loft for things to repurpose and try to get a secondhand desk or a table to use as a desk. </span></li>
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<span id="goog_928779080">As I think about this job more I realise that this cupboard is within that scope.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lJFVw4bFNl0/TlX-gtug6HI/AAAAAAAAA_w/eCqpOJRUgCw/s1600/20110824+inside+boiler+cupboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lJFVw4bFNl0/TlX-gtug6HI/AAAAAAAAA_w/eCqpOJRUgCw/s320/20110824+inside+boiler+cupboard.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_928779080">It's in the same room and currently houses the mop, sweeping brush, ironing board and hoover etc. It really does need rejigging though. I am note sure that cleaning things are best stored in the office. Perhaps they should go under the stairs instead. I don't know. I'll see how things look once i've cleared out the space in the office / craft room. <br />
</span>Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-84385582671082582412011-08-22T09:37:00.000+01:002020-03-26T17:58:21.396+00:00Shabby Chic Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-moie-3jk3Kk/TlINEnmbBAI/AAAAAAAAA-k/zzTCRcsr1WQ/s1600/IMG_5835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-moie-3jk3Kk/TlINEnmbBAI/AAAAAAAAA-k/zzTCRcsr1WQ/s400/IMG_5835.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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I took a simple foray into the world of shabby chic and painted our dining room table! I know it's nothing new. These tables are the perfect project piece and there are a million of them all looking the same, but it suits us just grand.<br />
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Here is the before pic up top. Well, I had just started to sand when I remembered to take a before pic. :o)<br />
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Power tools are awesome! I love playing about with practical things like this. I may not particularly good at it, but it's fun, so I don't mind. <br />
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Yes, I know. Skinny jeans are not the perfect attire for sanding. I just felt the urge and went with it, not stopping to get scruffs on.<br />
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Here's the dismantled table with just its undercoat on...<br />
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I bought the table from the YMCA charity shop. I love looking around there and imagining what I could do with all their stuff. Where would I put it? What colour could I paint it? Could the seat be recovered? What fabric? Joy joy!<br />
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Yep, you've guessed it. This is my fad of the moment.<br />
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I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out though! It's a bit sketchy from close up, but it's saved me a packet on buying the table I originally wanted from IKEA. I saw this "Liatorp" table when I was in with mum a while ago.<br />
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Okay, so it's larger and it extends, but it's pretty similar no?<br />
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I knew that these pine round ones existed, I just had to be patient and wait for one to come along. I missed the boat on a few eBay ones, so in the end, I paid £15 for the one I got from the YMCA. It was probably a bit much considering that they go for naff all on eBay, but I was getting impatient. The paint was about £15 for the undercoat and chalk-white eggshell. I'll get some clear varnish for the top too, which I am guessing will be about a tenner? So it's cost me £40 in total. Saving £139 on the cost of the IKEA one. Yey!<br />
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We used to have a massive antique pine table from IKEA, but it was huge in the space. There are only 4 of us, and we don't need a really big dining area. We do eat most of our meals at the table though, so it is an essential buy.<br />
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My parents kindly lent us our put-me-on table.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FoUMeRaizWg/TlITCp8TwMI/AAAAAAAAA_A/Jifo9AcF9wo/s1600/IMG_5790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FoUMeRaizWg/TlITCp8TwMI/AAAAAAAAA_A/Jifo9AcF9wo/s400/IMG_5790.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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It belonged to my Great Nana (mums side) so although it is battered and old, it has sentimental value. The veneer is coming off in places and the varnish is peeling everywhere. The table legs keep coming apart and the tabletop is warped upwards at one side, but it's still special. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6fdIcmwL6N4/TlITGtQj-NI/AAAAAAAAA_E/TcS5LNU2aqo/s1600/IMG_5791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6fdIcmwL6N4/TlITGtQj-NI/AAAAAAAAA_E/TcS5LNU2aqo/s400/IMG_5791.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It currently resides in our office, but I will probably put an ad on freecycle to see if anyone else could make use of a put-me-on table.<br />
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Here's our "new" table again...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--D9ayjUqAK0/TlINNaCWmGI/AAAAAAAAA-w/0UD89KrB5-8/s1600/IMG_5860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--D9ayjUqAK0/TlINNaCWmGI/AAAAAAAAA-w/0UD89KrB5-8/s400/IMG_5860.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And how it looks with the kid's seats in there too...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_NwEPQHMmE/TlINQRjpByI/AAAAAAAAA-0/NzFOzj_iKVs/s1600/IMG_5861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_NwEPQHMmE/TlINQRjpByI/AAAAAAAAA-0/NzFOzj_iKVs/s400/IMG_5861.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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Huzzah!! :o)<br />
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Linked up to:<br />
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<a border="0" href="http://cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee455/simplyklassic/Clean%20and%20%20Scentsible/CleanScentsiblePartyButton.png" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/lars72/733blog%20design%20images/WAW_BUTTON.png" /></a>Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-3335272887406800842011-08-20T22:32:00.000+01:002020-03-26T17:55:33.513+00:00Living Room RevealWell, I feel like calling this a reveal is maybe a bit grand for my purposes. But, then since I am "revealing" what our living room looks like now then I guess not. It's probably even a bit premature to be revealing anything since there is soooo much left to do, but I take that long with these things that it could be next year and I still wouldn't be <i>finished </i>as such. <br />
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So why don't we start right at the beginning? It's summer 2006 and we have just bought the house. We have yet to move anything in. The living room looks like this:<br />
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That's the view from the old kitchen door, looking at the front window. Oh yes, it's yellow and pink. Each of the two adjacent walls were actually two similar - but tonally incompatible - different types of yellow.<br />
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That's the dining end back there. ^<br />
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Before we moved in we painted everywhere magnolia and recarpeted with plain beige carpets. It was a necessity since the previous owners smoked.<br />
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So this is the view towards the front again from a slightly different angle. I don't think we still actually own any of the things you can see in the picture...<br />
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Except for the tatty old computer chair. We still have that. And the dining chairs.<br />
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And into the dining end...<br />
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I loved that coffee table!<br />
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Then we got one blue wall and scattered some teal accessories about. It was always just a "put us on" scheme.<br />
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Rockin' the bare plaster at the end there.<br />
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We did use to have floating shelves on that blue wall, but I'd taken them down by this point in prep for decorating. <br />
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Be prepared, because these next photos are during the extension build. We aren't naturally tidy people by any stretch, but living through having this work done was a real pain. The guys doing the work were as clean as they could have been, but just having everything upended meant tons of mess and dust.<br />
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This one is of the big unit. It looked like this for a looooong time. This thing is a gibble collector extraordinaire! Made worse when we had nowhere to put things like mugs and I don't even know what else! <br />
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We still have a window in the back on this one. Oh, and there's the blue wall on the left with the three shelves we had up. Shelves were a bit random really. <br />
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Lovely view to the other side of the room. That playpen was a lifesaver when we needed to stop Lyric from getting through to the hole in the wall and all the messy part of the room. It lived there for a fair long while. <br />
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:: shudder :: Here we had no kitchen in the extension and no kitchen in the old kitchen space. Stuff EVERYWHERE!<br />
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And these next ones are just what I took as I was painting when the furniture had all been moved. It looks HUGE! Well, huge by British average home standards I suppose. I look at all these blogs of the American ladies and their rooms are massive. Like, four times the size of ours. I get space envy. <br />
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Even though the room is pretty large, I still find it difficult to arrange the furniture right. I am constantly moving things around and Hubby gets home to find things have been switched about a lot. He is good though. When I did it this week and he came home, he asked why I had moved things around and I said, "Just because it's better. I could give you the proper explanation, but you're not interested." and he just smiled. Good man! :o) <br />
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The proper explanation has something to do with hiding the kid's boxes of toys and moving a unit that Korben has learned how to climb onto so that we don't pile hot drinks there anymore and forget about them. <br />
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This room is large, but it is long and thin with a whole wall of window at one end. The kids part is just like a walkway, which we always knew it would be. I am constantly trying to think of ways to stop it feeling like dead space, but it's hard. especially when it's basically just used to store the kid's toys in for now.<br />
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Once they get older we will rejig things. Maybe change the configuration of the space - moving internal walls, etc. But, or now it's nice to have one big room for them to really <strike>make a mess in</strike> have room to play.<br />
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Anyhoo, enough with the chatter. Here are the afterish / backend of during photos. :o)<br />
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As you can see in this next photo i have a huge wall space to fill. I'm feeling a bit intimidated by it and am unsure whether to get three large photos framed or do three large canvasses. Or, whether to get some picture shelves and do lots of smaller things.<br />
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The internal doors all still need painting, and there is no escaping the kid's things. Stairgates, toys and other baby type accouterment litters the house for the foreseeable future. <br />
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This is my new mirror, and I LOVE it! I was looking for one for what felt like forever. I wanted a mirror here to try to get some light into this side of the room. With it being in the middle of the house it gets dark. </div>
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I needed something to sit above the radiator cabinet, which is exactly the same as the one i got for the hallway which looks like this: </div>
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The mirror is from TKMaxx and was only £50. Okay, so that's not cheap, but I was looking at some that were over £30 for something half the size from Wilkos and they weren't close to being this nice or unusual. </div>
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The A-Z bookends are from a little independent gift and homewares shop in town. I was looking for some of these for ages too. I especially wanted them as A and Z are the initials of our first two children that we lost. Perhaps they should be holding up something a bit more special, but these are the books we have. I'm not going to stage the shelf with books about geology or Botanics when I read vampire fiction.<br />
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Here's the kid's toy corner. I love those expedit shelves, they are so huge inside. Tons of things will fit in there, but unfortunately, just not everything (no matter how hard I cram!) Once the kids get a bit older some of the bigger toys can be kept in their bedrooms. For now though they live here. It's no style statement, but this is a real home. <br />
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Eldest's reading chair and footstool are so cute! They were from Dunelm Mill. I may have to get a duplicate when Youngest gets a little older. I hope they still sell the same ones!!<br />
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Another blank wall space here too. I've been scouring pinterest and the blogosphere for inspiration, but my indecisiveness is killer!<br />
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Like my lamp duo? The tall one was from TK Maxx (again!) and i originally bought it for the shape and wanted to spray it white. However, once i sat it there i kind of liked it how it was, so i escaped a little job there. I like the different textures of the two beige shades next to each other and the different heights of the lamps add interest. It took me a while to find a reasonably priced lamp as tall as this one. With it being next to the massive brown unit, I couldn't have something small that would have got lost. <br />
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Yeah, there's nothing in that frame. I don't know what to put there yet. All of the frames in the room need their contents updating. I have no photos of Youngest out yet.<br />
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Sadly I don't know how long the room will stay unfinished. My maternity pay ran out this month, so I am on virtually no budget. I am just keeping my eye out for cheap and cheerful ideas, mainly of how I can fill those few wall spaces. Any ideas are most welcome! I also think I am going to raid the loft cause I am sure I have a ton of old photo frames in there. Old frames + my trusty white paint = gallery wall of some description!<br />
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So, i hope you have enjoyed the little tour of our living room. This room is the centre of our home. It's where we play, watch TV, chat to friends and family, drink tea and blog. It's far from finished and far from perfect, but we like it so far. <br />
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If you didn't enjoy it and maybe think I am a little bit weird for blogging about my living room, then I'm afraid you're going to have to either put up with it or leave. I am a homes perv. I get my kicks from looking at other bloggers homes and giving you a virtual tour of mine. I'm also a cupboards perv. There are few things in life more satisfying than eyeballing a beautifully organised storage space. ::dribble::Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-12456638599608772942011-08-08T20:11:00.000+01:002020-03-26T17:46:16.991+00:00Faffing With Frames<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-daSQpbYXInE/TkAuj1TtwFI/AAAAAAAAA8w/4OvKJ9lGKF0/s1600/DIY+cork+memo+board+made+from+a+picture+frame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-daSQpbYXInE/TkAuj1TtwFI/AAAAAAAAA8w/4OvKJ9lGKF0/s400/DIY+cork+memo+board+made+from+a+picture+frame.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are a few things about my personality that you might have noticed if you have been reading this blog a while. Mainly how faddy I am. I get super obsessed with one thing for a very short period of time. I read about it, look at pictures and imagine myself doing it, fantasise about all the bits I am going to do. I generally start off really well, buy some necessary components, set up and go! After a short while, these things usually fizzle out.<br />
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I am learning to see that the short bursts of speed hobbying are fine though. In the time I am obsessed with things, I enjoy it and I take away experiences and results each time.<br />
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My home organisation project is still ongoing, and I still seek out spaces to declutter. I just forgot to take photographs and forgot to blog about it. Plus, I didn't know how many cupboard pervs there are out there who are actually interested!<br />
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I have tons of crafting stuff and always love to make cards and layouts, but my life sometimes gets in the way of that. Having babies is not conducive to quiet time for crafting...<br />
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Recently I decided to have a go at painting stuff. I bought a doll's crib for Eldest, a couple of large photo frames and a dining room table all from charity shops. My plan is to paint them all white (gloss white, gloss white and chalk white respectively). The crib is still not done, the table remains cruddy pine, but I did manage to do the frames. <br />
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I originally bought two of these for £6. Not much of them left now though! Hubby put his foot through one of the panes of glass as I had it out on the floor faffing about with it. Then I took the second frame outside to spray paint and knocked it on the shed doorway. It fell apart! I was pretty morngey about it all but managed to salvage something.<br />
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Walking through The Works I picked up a roll of cork for £3, so I decided to turn the one surviving frame into a memo board. Not a cheap project by the time I'd destroyed most of it and had to buy the cork, but it's better than nothing ay?!<br />
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I also had three frames i'd bought from Wilkos ages ago. I liked the dark wood and i liked the mounts and shape, but not the prints. I hoped to put my own photographs in there, but was dithering about choosing some. I find it so hard to compose square images!<br />
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So, to get them on the walls i used some of the wallpaper that matches my curtains and made myself a wee art trio.<br />
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I'm also planning on making some sort of menu planning, whiteboard, patterned paper frame type doodah when i see the right frame. I really need something to help with menu planning.<br />
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<br />Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7142153838122757803.post-40727500374542227012011-06-24T14:57:00.000+01:002020-03-26T17:43:01.153+00:00Quick Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And I do mean quick! This was one of those projects where I bought the stuff ages ago and kept meaning to get on with it and do it. Today I decluttered the office/craft room (again!) and because I had easy access to my desk I decided to do something. Then I stumbled upon this mirror.<br />
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It was a bargain from <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90044151">IKEA </a>and is just simple unfinished wood. I suppose you could paint it or do all manner of interesting things with it, but I like simple. Plus, I saw something very similar on <a href="http://jengrantmorris.blogspot.com/">Jen's blog</a> and copied it. Yup, I'm an ideas thief! The rub ons for the wording are Doodlebug.<br />
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So here it is. My very simple, less than 5-minute mirror project. :o)<br />
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Sarah Nellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14888604844192162540noreply@blogger.com0