the year in books: january

The year in books. After failing to complete recording my reads last year, I am excited to be joining in again with Laura for a year long feast of literary goodness. 

I am determined to stay on course this year. I won't allow life's distractions to get in the way of my reading. I will enjoy taking time to lose myself in the wonderful world of words.

This month I've been reading Time's Echo by Pamela Hartshorne and The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith. Laura's pledge to source her books from independent, second hand or charity bookshops has inspired me to try to do the same. So this month, Time's Echo was a charity shop find and The Cuckoo's Calling was passed on to me by my brother.

I'm looking forward to seeing what I find for February.

Joining in with Laura for the year in books.

weekending: one frosty morning

Winter sunshine, the ground covered with ice, hats, scarves and cosy all in ones make for a fun filled frosty morning.

Running wild outdoors in winter. Time well spent.

Hope you're all enjoying the weekend, whatever the weather.

the colour collaborative: january: home

I was delighted to be asked to be this month's guest blogger for the Colour Collaborative. 

Thinking about colour within the home, the shades used and what influenced those choices has been interesting and enlightening. 

In our home, the colours we've used are inspired by the beautiful palettes in nature. The blues, greens, yellows and taupes which make up the landscape around us. 

As I drove along on the school run one frosty morning last week, I realised that the colours which feature predominantly in our home are those found in a frosty landscape. The vivid rich greens of meadows and hedgerows muted by a coating of tiny white ice crystals. The blue of the sky, illuminated by the golden winter sunlight. The soft taupe and brown tones of seed heads and dried foliage along the roadside. These are the colours of our home.

With this realisation I started to wonder does this make our home feel cold. Happily I've put that worry to rest. Whilst the walls are painted in creams, blues and greys accompanied by white woodwork, warmer shades feature in the textiles and accessories in each room.

Bright, primary colours also appear. Here and there. Mainly on toys and in the little one's rooms. But they are minimal. 

Subtle, muted colours prevail. I love their calming tones. My midwife whilst visiting after our youngest was born, commented on how bright and light our home was. She said all that light was really good for your mind. I like that idea. So I guess our home will remain cool and bright.

So that's it, colour in the home and what it means to me.

Don't forget to visit the other Colour Collaborative blogs for more of this month's posts, just click on the links below.

Annie at Annie Cholewa     Sandra at Cherry Heart     

 Gillian at Tales from a Happy House        CJ at Above the River      

Jennifer at Thistlebear 

What is The Colour Collaborative? All creative bloggers make stuff, gather stuff, shape stuff, and share stuff. Mostly they work on their own, but what happens when a group of them work together? Is a creative collaboration greater than the sum of its parts? We think so and we hope you will too. We'll each be offering our own monthly take on a colour related theme, and hoping that in combination our ideas will encourage us, and perhaps you, to think about colour in new ways.

precious things #5

My wedding dress. A precious thing full of memories, woven through every stitch and tiny detail. A reminder of so much happiness from our wedding day. The bodice laced by my bridesmaids as I nervously waited for it all to begin. Just a glimpse of the dress reminds me of the excitement and anticipation I felt on our special day.

Now it hangs inside its cover, unzipped occasionally. A pretty dress to be admired. But I have a quandary. It has been over ten years since our wedding and whilst I love my dress, I have wondered what to do with it.

For any of you who have a wedding dress or a special item of clothing, I'd love to know what you've chosen to do with yours.

For more precious things, pop over and visit these lovely blogs.

Sarah at Mitenska
Leanne at Today's Stuff
N at Creative Academia
CJ at Above the River

nature in the home

A pretty lady with a perfectly coiffed barnet. My new vase. A lovely present. Filled with dried hydrangea blooms from my parents garden. 

Little memories of summer as the wind howls and hail batters the window panes. I'm so grateful to be cosied up inside. Hope you are all safe and warm.

Joining in with Lou for nature in the home.

beginnings

So here we are. Embarking on a brand new year. I'm not particularly enchanted with New Year and all its shiny, happy positivity pressure. 

I try to take a mellow, laid back approach to the turn of the year. As is my way in life generally. Like last year I won't be making any resolutions. Setting myself up for failure isn't how I want to start January.

I do however, have many good intentions for 2015. I plan living simply, taking time to slow down and be present in the everyday. I want to enjoy the special moments and simple pleasures I encounter. I want to explore more and go on adventures. I want to learn new things and be creative.

I've spent some time thinking about a word to sum up my intentions for this year. I love words and found it very difficult to settle on just one. But I've chosen 'GROW'. To grow creatively, in knowledge and through experiences. 

Wishing you all a wonderful 2015 and thank you for reading my ramblings. I really appreciate you stopping by.