Pimp my living room

I sigh a great big shallow sigh. I want to redecorate my living room but don't know where to start or what I really want it to look like. Plus, um, I have no money so am kinda stuck.

This is how it looks now...

Excuse my cub glued to the Lion King

So yeah, it's pretty small and after 6 years, 2 children and a big smelly dog, in need of a bit of TLC. I've spent the morning on Pinterest browsing some beautiful looking rooms looking for inspiration. A Lust List will shortly follow featuring objects (and rooms) of my desire.

So, Living Room Fairy, if you're reading, please pay me a visit and bring me the room of my dreams. For free.

Making room

When I was first pregnant with Finn, Andy and I were determined that our house wouldn't get filled with toys, baby paraphernalia and general plastic, loud stuff. We didn't want our kids to have loads of unnecessary toys and would try as much as possible to stick to traditional, educational toys. Then 4 Christmases and 6 combined birthdays came and went (via our generous family and friends) and we find ourselves left with this

Our conservatory, ladies and gentlemen. The conservatory was here when we moved in and we have never really liked it. It's freezing in the winter and doesn't get the sun in the summer. Original plans were (and still are, one day) to take it off and create an extra, proper room in its place that's warm and stuff.

But since having the boys it's been lovely to have a space just for them. It means the rest of the house is free from toys and we maintain our grown-up space. However, this is what I'm left with at the end of a day at home. Carnage.

They don't play with lots of the toys and have outgrown many of them so today we decided it was time for an overhaul, a reclamation of play space and a good old-fashioned clear out. It took about 3 hours, thanks to my 'helpers' taking out the toys just as soon as I'd pack them away (annoying, much?) but we got there in the end and now have only toys they play with (but seriously, do they still need this many?) Here is the end result

The train set lasted the best part of an hour before Max decided it was better on the floor

Thrifty vintage desks. £4.50 on eBay.

I gave Finn the letters to his name to see if he can spell it out. This is what he came up with. He's now known by his Norwegian name, Fiehln.

Lust List

If this blog had a Lust List (it doesn't, I've checked) this week, it would look something like this...

1. Karoliina top - POP! The Fashion Store

2. Skirt - H&M

3. VERA Flatform shoes - ASOS

4. Vintage spoon ring - POP! The Fashion Store

5. Woofie cushion - John Lewis

6. Jubilee mug - Emma Bridgewater

Holidays are coming...

I don't know if it's because the kids are becoming more aware of it or it's simply my inner-child fighting to get out but I am so excited about Christmas this year.  Finn is 4 in March and understands the whole Father Christmas thing (there may or may not be* a bit of Santa-related bribery going on) which only adds to my over-enthusiasm for the season.

This week there has been a whole heap of Christmas-ness going on in the house.  The tree went up at the weekend.  It's Tree vs Max and, though it's holding it's own fairly well, Max is just edging the lead as I frequently find baubles in cupboards, drawers and the dog's water bowl

The shops are full of fair isle goodies this year and, thanks to Abigail, I now have some lovely festive paper chains on order to go with my knitted bauble currently under construction

The boys and I made snowflakes to go on the window** and considering I've not done these for about 25 years, I think they look ok!

Earlier on this year, I started selling handmade cards.  Time, work and family commitments meant they had to go on the backburner for a while.  I think perhaps I was being a bit over-optimistic thinking I could run a business, look after 2 pre-schoolers (and, you know, sleep and stuff) and still find time to design and make cards so I kept my Etsy page and sold a few designs but didn't do any Christmas cards or sell at local markets (as was my original plan).

I have, however, made a few designs just for us to give to family and friends.  It's put the fun back into design and has motivated me to re-start the engines and push the cards again.  I'm going to build my stock back up and perhaps get out to some markets in the new year.

Anyhow, as I type this the sun is streaming into the living room and I need to get my 2 very restless children out of the house so we're off to enjoy this sunshine whilst it lasts (snow forecast today-really??)

* There is

** I made snowflakes, they made a mess