Blooming Lovely!

Today my thoughts are among the flowers...I find myself getting giddy every time I see floral prints, a little chintz...

It's taking over my wardrobe...

It's creeping into my kitchen cupboards...oh Pyrex, how I love thee...

I see all things through rose tinted spectacles...it compelled me to cross-stitch...

It's consuming all creative thoughts...

It's blooming marvelous!

Happy Monday!
Tania ♥

Food, glorious food!

Hello me' darlings! Today my mind keeps wandering to food...A couple of weeks ago I found this recipe, made it, tried it, and I'm hooked. It's super quick and easy, and perfect for those lazy hazy summer days...we're still hoping those days are heading this way...But for now, we'll enjoy lovely lazy suppers anyway...

Fruity Rice Salad with a bit of a bite!

You'll need...

♥ Rice...One 250g pack of Uncle Ben's Long Grain & Wild Rice,       mixed with another 250g pack of Uncle Ben's Wholegrain Rice. By all means cook your rice from scratch, but this express variety was super quick, and just as good! Prepare to pack instructions...Set aside.

Mix together in food processor, the following:

♥ A large handful of spinach leaves...
♥ 2 Large red, deseeded chillies...I use tiny Birdseye chillies    for extra warmth!
♥ A bunch of trimmed salad onions (spring onions)
♥ A small handful of fresh coriander leaves
♥ Juice of one lime (Tip: Warm lime in microwave for a few seconds, then squeeze juice out. You'll get twice as much from your lime!)
♥ A splash of extra virgin olive oil
♥ Salt and pepper to taste
Blitz to make a paste...

♥ Four stoned peaches, cut into chunks

Combine the hot rice, peaches and paste in a large bowl.

♥ Add some cubed feta just before serving.

{Now, next time I make it, I'm also going to add some pine nuts. I think this extra crunch would go lovely with it!}

Enjoy!

Happy days!!!

Blessings,

Tania ♥

A little thrifting and tweaking...

Saturdays...don't you love them? We had a lovely morning out with the kidlets to a pet rescue centre, followed by Coronation chicken sandwiches, a favourite of ours! And this afternoon has brought some unexpected peace and quiet, as friends have absconded with all three my children to the cinema, and left me with some quiet hours to fill. Sigh...

So, I have tidied a little corner in our bedroom, and some thrifted treasures have found a new home at last! Here in the UK we often frequent car boot sales...either to get rid of things we've grown out of, or to pick up the odd little bargain or treasure. I have learnt over time that patience pays off...If you're willing to wait for that one elusive item you're looking for, chances are that you'll eventually find it! Now, I had this dull corner in the bedroom...neglected...sad...forlorn...But, I have it just the way I have wanted it for ages! All thanks to...

Sweetly thrifted, framed, floral loveliness...

A quietly beautiful, delicate mirror which needed a new home...

And flying swallows...

And what would such a corner be without a touch of Granny chic? I think this Melba vase, feminine doilies and floral tin would do nicely!

And for a touch of glamour? A vintage silver shell trinket holder...I was tickled pink when I parted with nothing but a couple of coins to bring this beauty home!

And so, this little corner seems happier somehow...

With a few old favourites...and a few new, yet old favourites!

Now I'll tackle the drawers inside the bureau. I've made a start. Sorting through my brooches, I have organised them in an old muffin tray...

Perfectly practical and pretty! I'll let you know how I get on with the rest! 

Happy Saturday to you and yours!
Tania

Trolley tricks!

Happy Friday my lovelies! Boy, am I glad it's the weekend! It's been a crazy week. As some of you might know, we've had the most wonderful holiday in South Africa (more about that later!), but what I haven't shared with you, is that it ended on a bit of a 'oh dear...what now? ' You see, we had problems with our eight year old son's visa, which meant we couldn't fly back when planned. We stayed on for an extra week, hoping we'd get it sorted, but it took a lot longer, and we ended up having to leave him with family until we could get his visa. It broke our hearts! But, he was in very good hands. He stayed with his aunt, uncle and cousins on their farm, and had a fabulous time without mum and dad! Well, he returned home on Monday, and we were so excited to have him back! Unfortunately he'd caught an awful tummy bug, and has been very ill all week! So, the weekend is here, and my thoughts are turning to 'down time'...'chill out time'...'relaxing time', ...'catch up time...'!

Now, since we've been back I've been on a mission to de-clutter. I wish I could say it's because I want to live a simpler, more minimalistic life, but truth be told, it's only because I want to get rid of things I've grown tired of, in favour of new, different lovelies! A while back I picked up a tea trolley from a goodwill store for an absolute song! I didn't quite know what I was going to do with it, but I thought it would come to me in good time! It has just been sitting on the side, looking a little lost, wanting a purpose in life. I have seen these trolleys making a bit of a comeback, being used as...

Book trolleys...

Tea carts...

Stationary Stations...(very clever I think!)

For links to the above, and more inspiration, you can visit Pinterest @ Trolley Dolly.
There are so many ways to use these, painted up for a fresh look, decoupaged for something different and unique, and they are so versatile! I wanted to go for something a little more retro, and perhaps a little 'grown-up' too. So, I've turned mine into a cocktail cart! Now, I'm not a boozy bird by no means, but at the weekend I enjoy a little tipple or cocktail! And what better way than to have it at the ready for such occasions! And here is my version...

 Stocked with a few our our favourite mixers...
fresh lemons and limes...and of course a couple of cocktail cherries! The beautiful dipped candles were made by my little man in sunny South Africa.

I found these very kitsch cherry glasses at a boot sale for just a pound!

 So, we're ready for the weekend! What are your plans? Anything exciting? Whatever it is, may you have a good one!

Blessings
Tania ♥♥♥

And we're back!

Hello my dear blogging friends! My, it has been forever and a day since I decided to take a 'short' break from this corner of the blogging universe! I intended to take a two week break, but that soon stretched into months...In hindsight, it was probably needed, as life has been throwing us a few curve balls lately. A break was much needed, in order to prioritise, catch my breath and gain fresh perspective. We escaped to South Africa too, for what can only be described as 'THE MOST AMAZING, FANTABULOUS, EPIC HOLIDAY EVER!!!!!'  It was the first time in nearly ten years that we returned to our homeland, for a family reunion that was long overdue. I have so much to tell you, I find myself a little overwhelmed by it all. Where do I start? I'm still trying to adjust to 'normal' life! Here's a photo of the whole family (on hubby's side), taken on Easter weekend.

A family re-united!

Grandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins, the whole Egan clan together at last!

This photo was taken whilst we were camping at our favourite spot, Midmar dam, just outside Pietermaritzburg in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Both hubby and I have fond memories of spending many weekends and holidays here with friends and family when we were kids. 

I'd like to share a few more holiday snaps with you over the next few weeks, but I have been itching to do a little crafting today. So, I thought I'd share it with you now! I have a Pinterest list as long as my arm of little projects that I want to tackle, and this one has been on hold for a while! These darling little Lovebirds in a jar are super cute! 

 You can find the inspiration for this project, and the 'how to' at House of humble. 

I already had two tiny birdies, but they weren't quite as cute as the ones above, and they were exactly the same! So, I decided to 'colour them in'! I used chalk and a sponge to create the effect I wanted. I also used raffia for a nest effect instead of moss, and a transfer acetate tag for interest. Here's how mine turned out...

So, two little birdies, one pink, one blue, have found a new home!  And I have found a second wind to craft and blog about it all! 

Blessings
Tania ♥♥♥

A little time out...

Hello my lovelies! Today's post is a very brief one...short and sweet! I feel that it's time for a little break, just to catch my breath and re-prioritise. There are a few things that demand my attention right now,  and I feel that I don't want to spread myself too thin. Please bear with me while I take a little time out from blogging. I would like to think that I'll be back soon with a bucket load of inspiration to share! :)
Thank you for all your wonderful comments and warm and happy thoughts that you always share. See you all soon!
Blessings
Tania