Tuesday 31 July 2012

Packed

We are pretty much all packed, and everything is being cleaned within an inch of its life, even Oscar is helping. The vans arrive at 9am tomorrow and we are hoping that the weather is exactly like today because the sun is shining gloriously. The internet should be on in the new place by the weekend, (and its cable, not phone line woo-hoo), so you will hear from me when we are settled in at the sea side, wish us luck.


Oscar






Valerie

xxx


Packed

We are pretty much all packed, and everything is being cleaned within an inch of its life, even Oscar is helping. The vans arrive at 9am tomorrow and we are hoping that the weather is exactly like today because the sun is shining gloriously. The internet should be on in the new place by the weekend, (and its cable, not phone line woo-hoo), so you will hear from me when we are settled in at the sea side, wish us luck.


Oscar






Valerie

xxx


Thursday 26 July 2012

Bedroom Fun And Frolicks

The most exciting part about moving house is planning out of how you want it to look. It is no surprise that I am going down the vintage/retro route, so here is a pre-move peek.

The amazing wardrobe I bought last week £65 from British Heart Foundation



 



 


Wardrobe


These bedside tables are not quite finished.



These started life as 1980's honey pine, you can just see the bun feet which I intend to remove once they are finished. I have to spray them with a couple of coats of clear spray varnish and I have some glass rose handles to put on them. The white paint is Crown cupboard paint in 'Milk White' and the pink paint is white tile paint mixed with some of my artists crimson red acrylic (from The Works). I am loving the colours, it was a snap decision instead of plain white.

And for my dressing table

Vintage Perfume




Vintage Avon Perfume

Vintage Avon Perfume bottles. £2.99 for both. The one on the left is 'Lady With Flowers - Timeless' and the one on the right is 'Moonwind Candle'. I love these, and I think between my sister and myself we had all of the Avon novelty perfumes. I am keeping my eye out for the Moonwind Christmas boot.

I think its all starting to come together nicely. We have a black iron bed frame (boxed and ready to move) and I have a colour scheme in mind but painting the new house is going to be a wee while off.

Valerie

xxx


Wednesday 25 July 2012

Still Here, And A Bit Over There

I have been finding my family type posts and my vintage type posts are becoming all muddled up. As an experiment I am trying to separate out my vintage and style posts to another blog to see how I manage it.  I have tried this before and lost interest, so we shall see if it lasts.


In the mean time here is the URL of the other blog NEW BLOG. For those of you who have said I am not on the photo's much myself, the latest post on the other blog has enough photo's of me to last a lifetime.


V


xxx


PLEASE DONT EAT THE DAISIES



Saturday 21 July 2012

Animal Clinic

Product Review

Over the year the blog has been running I have been asked to do product reviews, sponsored posts or advertising buttons quite a few times. I believe it is reasonably common to be approached, however I have always said no because I felt the products or services were things that Oscar, myself or the regular blog readers wouldn't use. I was asked again last week to do a toy review and we were offered a few different toys to try out. Some of the toys were things Oscar has no interest in and some were toys which I wouldn't want to promote on the blog, but when they offered Lego/Duplo I really couldn't say no. Oscar still plays with his beloved castle every day, but over the last 6 weeks this has been far overtaken by his Duplo set.
The Duplo animal clinic arrived from the Lego Games department a couple of days ago and I can say with all honesty that Oscar is loving it.



duplo Review


We already had the basic Duplo set which is fabulous and last year we bought the Duplo Zoo. The animal clinic can be a stand alone Duplo set but Oscar has mixed the whole lot together.


duplo Review



The animals in the clinic are smaller than the animals in the zoo, so Oscar is calling the clinic animals the poor wee babies (so cute).


duplo Review

As any parent will tell you, it is virtually impossible to stage play, so we have just let Oscar get on with it and watched how much fun he was having and how much time he was spending with it. I expect you would not be surprised to know that the answers are lots of fun and lots of time.



duplo Review




duplo Review




duplo Review


I am afraid I wouldn't have it in me to write a good review if the items weren't up to standard, because I know other parents read my blog, so I was pleased that the Duplo Clinic was such a hit. From a review point of view, I guess what you really want to know is, 'would I go out and buy one for Oscar' and the answer is a resounding yes. As another Mama blogger wisely said 'you know you are a real parent when you have experienced the unique pain/pleasure known as don't stand on the lego in bare feet'  Its almost a right of passage into toddler parenting to own Duplo/Lego. The same Mama Blogger did also say that she would suck it up with vacuum cleaner except it would cause much wailing from the children, but that's a whole other story.
Anyway, a big thank you to the sponsors at Fisher Price Toys for Argos for sending us such a cool toy to play with. We will be packing up most of Oscar's toys for the house move, and the toys being left out will be his castle, the scooby gang and the Duplo sets. These three will definitely be enough to carry him through the next 2 weeks.


duplo Review


Valerie
xxx


Animal Clinic

Product Review

Over the year the blog has been running at Mama's Little Beats I have been asked to do product reviews, sponsored posts or advertising buttons quite a few times. I believe it is reasonably common to be approached, however I have always said no because I felt the products or services were things that Oscar, myself or the regular blog readers wouldn't use. I was asked again last week to do a toy review and we were offered a few different toys to try out. Some of the toys were things Oscar has no interest in and some were toys which I wouldn't want to promote on the blog, but when they offered Lego/Duplo I really couldn't say no. Oscar still plays with his beloved castle every day, but over the last 6 weeks this has been far overtaken by his Duplo set.
The Duplo animal clinic arrived from the Lego Games department a couple of days ago and I can say with all honesty that Oscar is loving it.



duplo Review


We already had the basic Duplo set which is fabulous and last year we bought the Duplo Zoo. The animal clinic can be a stand alone Duplo set but Oscar has mixed the whole lot together.


duplo Review



The animals in the clinic are smaller than the animals in the zoo, so Oscar is calling the clinic animals the poor wee babies (so cute).


duplo Review

As any parent will tell you, it is virtually impossible to stage play, so we have just let Oscar get on with it and watched how much fun he was having and how much time he was spending with it. I expect you would not be surprised to know that the answers are lots of fun and lots of time.



duplo Review




duplo Review




duplo Review


I am afraid I wouldn't have it in me to write a good review if the items weren't up to standard, because I know other parents read my blog, so I was pleased that the Duplo Clinic was such a hit. From a review point of view, I guess what you really want to know is, 'would I go out and buy one for Oscar' and the answer is a resounding yes. As another Mama blogger wisely said 'you know you are a real parent when you have experienced the unique pain/pleasure known as don't stand on the lego in bare feet'  Its almost a right of passage into toddler parenting to own Duplo/Lego. The same Mama Blogger did also say that she would suck it up with vacuum cleaner except it would cause much wailing from the children, but that's a whole other story.
Anyway, a big thank you to the sponsors at Fisher Price Toys for Argos for sending us such a cool toy to play with. We will be packing up most of Oscar's toys for the house move, and the toys being left out will be his castle, the scooby gang and the Duplo sets. These three will definitely be enough to carry him through the next 2 weeks.


duplo Review


Valerie
xxx



Thursday 19 July 2012

Oh I Do Like To Be

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside ..........The Seaside. We finally heard last night that the cottage by the beach is ours, and that we can go ahead and move in on August 1st. We are so relieved, mostly because we like the cottage, but also because house-hunting is a major pain. Now we know what room sizes we are dealing with, we can get on and plan what comes and what doesn't and we can pack as much as we can as soon as we can.
The new sideboard arrived yesterday and that will definitely be coming. Photo's as promised.

















sideboard docket
Original Dispatch Docket, Dated 1976



And while I was taking photo's I snapped my new Kelly Bag, which is vintage and leather and I picked it up for £5.50. I have been after one for ages but the ridiculous prices on Ebay were putting me off (some were starting at £20).




And finally and most importantly, Oscar is much better. He is a little bit puffy over the eye, but thankfully it mostly seemed to subside overnight. Thank you all so much for the well wishes. I can not impress have awful it was, we all know how sore one nettle sting is, never mind dozens just on the face alone.


He had been eating strawberries and caster sugar here

Valerie

xxx


Oh I Do Like To Be

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside ..........The Seaside. We finally heard last night that the cottage by the beach is ours, and that we can go ahead and move in on August 1st. We are so relieved, mostly because we like the cottage, but also because house-hunting is a major pain. Now we know what room sizes we are dealing with, we can get on and plan what comes and what doesn't and we can pack as much as we can as soon as we can.
The new sideboard arrived yesterday and that will definitely be coming. Photo's as promised.

















sideboard docket
Original Dispatch Docket, Dated 1976



And while I was taking photo's I snapped my new Kelly Bag, which is vintage and leather and I picked it up for £5.50. I have been after one for ages but the ridiculous prices on Ebay were putting me off (some were starting at £20).




And finally and most importantly, Oscar is much better. He is a little bit puffy over the eye, but thankfully it mostly seemed to subside overnight. Thank you all so much for the well wishes. I can not impress have awful it was, we all know how sore one nettle sting is, never mind dozens just on the face alone.


He had been eating strawberries and caster sugar here

Valerie

xxx


Wednesday 18 July 2012

My Dearest Oscar

My Dearest Oscar Casey,
                                       no matter what else happened over the course of the day, yesterday, July 17th 2012, will always be known as the day you fell down the steps in the back garden and landed face first into stinging nettles which were taller in height than you are. Mummy is so so sorry that you spent the day crying and upset, even if it did drive you to my arms again (something which is becoming rarer and rarer). I hope we never have another day like it.
                                                         Mama
                                                          xxx



eye

poor baby


Other things that happened yesterday


  • I reacted to the fall by baking some not too unhealthy cookies (recipe following)

  • Flat-pack packing boxes arrived in the post

  • I started my Christmas knitting (yes I said Christmas)

  • Oscar braved the garden later and picked me flowers

  • We cropped our garlic bulbs

  • We did not hear about the cottage yet, nerves - shreds!!

  • We were up until midnight rearranging packing boxes and furniture, so we can fit the new furniture into the lounge (even the wardrobe for now) 

  • I made a new list on Ebay called woolly woollness

COOKIES
: : 2 cups oatmeal
: : 1 cup milk (we used soya)
: : 1 cup water
: : 1/4 cup sunflower oil
: : 1 cup sultanas
(soak these ingredients together for 15 minutes)
: : 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
: : 2 teaspoons maple syrup
: : 2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
: : 1 1/2 cups plain flower
Mix together and spoon onto greased baking trays, bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 180c
This made us 20 good sized cookies. Because there was no sugar in the recipe we drizzled some icing over the cooled cookies. You may want to add a couple of tablespoons of sugar if you are not icing them.


cookies


Christmas Knitting




Flowers From Oscar


Garlic

garlic


And finally, lest you think I was calmly taking photo's of Oscar screaming in pain, I had already covered him in local anesthetic cream and rocked him in my arms for a solid 10 minutes before I took these photo's (which were really to show Duncan). Also, if you were to look up the definition 'freaking out mother', there you would find a picture of my started face. Thankfully I can report that he is fine today although he was crying in the night over the pain at his eye.
Valerie
xxx


My Dearest Oscar

My Dearest Oscar Casey,
                                       no matter what else happened over the course of the day, yesterday, July 17th 2012, will always be known as the day you fell down the steps in the back garden and landed face first into stinging nettles which were taller in height than you are. Mummy is so so sorry that you spent the day crying and upset, even if it did drive you to my arms again (something which is becoming rarer and rarer). I hope we never have another day like it.
                                                         Mama
                                                          xxx



eye

poor baby


Other things that happened yesterday



  • I reacted to the fall by baking some not too unhealthy cookies (recipe following)

  • Flat-pack packing boxes arrived in the post

  • I started my Christmas knitting (yes I said Christmas)

  • Oscar braved the garden later and picked me flowers

  • We cropped our garlic bulbs

  • We did not hear about the cottage yet, nerves - shreds!!

  • We were up until midnight rearranging packing boxes and furniture, so we can fit the new furniture into the lounge (even the wardrobe for now) 

  • I made a new list on Ebay called woolly woollness


COOKIES
: : 2 cups oatmeal
: : 1 cup milk (we used soya)
: : 1 cup water
: : 1/4 cup sunflower oil
: : 1 cup sultanas
(soak these ingredients together for 15 minutes)
: : 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
: : 2 teaspoons maple syrup
: : 2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
: : 1 1/2 cups plain flower
Mix together and spoon onto greased baking trays, bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 180c
This made us 20 good sized cookies. Because there was no sugar in the recipe we drizzled some icing over the cooled cookies. You may want to add a couple of tablespoons of sugar if you are not icing them.


cookies


Christmas Knitting




Flowers From Oscar


Garlic

garlic


And finally, lest you think I was calmly taking photo's of Oscar screaming in pain, I had already covered him in local anesthetic cream and rocked him in my arms for a solid 10 minutes before I took these photo's (which were really to show Duncan). Also, if you were to look up the definition 'freaking out mother', there you would find a picture of my started face. Thankfully I can report that he is fine today although he was crying in the night over the pain at his eye.
Valerie
xxx