OUTSIDE...

... taken a few weeks ago in their happy place, the back garden. These are the days xx

SPRING: fun in the garden

Saturday afternoons in spring are for being in the garden, playing football, catching bugs and planting seeds. It's so nice that Coralie has so much more freedom out there too now. Before the winter she struggled with the steps and was a bit of a liability, with plenty of trips and falls. But not any more, and it was lovely to see her mooch around doing what she wanted. Phiney spent ages mixing concoctions of sticks, leaves and mud before we kicked the ball up and down the garden. Ben was mending and painting some old tools he bought in an amazing vintage garden store down the road from us, and then we all headed in for tea.

As long as the hours can sometimes be; as tired and as broke as we are - these are the days :)

RAINY DAYS: bird watching [part two]

Entranced with the rain, the garden and the birds. Forever watching the world beyond our bedroom window.

Just like her big sister.

^^^

I cannot tell you how much of an essential our Stokke Newborn Set for the Tripp Trapp has become since Coralie was born. It is most definitely our favourite piece for her.

The Tripp Trapp is a must-have for families across the world, in recent years especially, and you can see them in an array of beautiful colours in the kitchens of nearly all our friends. And it's easy to see why. With their stylish and contemporary yet classic design they fit well in every style of interiors, and with the ability to grow with your child the Tripp Trapp offers such great value for money.

The Newborn Set is a brilliant addition to this classic. This elevated seat allows Coralie to sit with us at the table and be part of family dinners, whilst keeping her at a safe height away from stray bouncy balls and the clumsiness of a two year old who insists on running, jumping or twirling around the house but at the same time allows for Josephine to interact with her. And I love the simple lines of the seat. No noisy plastic toys, just a removable arm that you can add your own cuddlies to. Sure the Lamaze toys are garish, but this octopus was a very welcome gift that right now Coralie adores.

From her perch, Coralie is entertained for ages just watching the world go by; especially with the antics of her busy, busy, busy big sister. Including plenty of toe tickling, of course.

This is a sponsored post. Thank you so much Stokke for this beautiful piece. A family heirloom in the making, for sure. One day our grandchildren will sit on that chair :)

THE HOMEMAKER SERIES: SPACES

Ever since we moved into our house I wanted to paint our kitchen white. Yes. My name is Nell and I'm a white-paint-everywhere-aholic. For me, nothing offers a lighter, cleaner foundation to work with; to add colour and personality to, and one day we'll own a house where all the walls are the crispest of white. Well, finally, after about two years of saying we were going to paint, we finally have. And I love it. 

As I mentioned, we moved the sofa from Josephine's room into the kitchen and, in the process, utilised what was wasted space and created a lovely second living area that we all adore. Still covered with that amazing vintage quilt I found in a charity shop for about £4, I made a couple of new small cushions and then we hung more of these brilliant wires above to display Instagram print outs (which are my favourite) and paintings, postcards and artwork torn from Frankie Magazine. I love these. So simple yet effective, and so easy to change as and when we want. 

The retro table has been in our kitchen forever, but we moved the dining chairs and got some of these folding ones from Habitat instead to create more room in this little space, and the metal flock of birds above was an amazing gift from my Grandparents at Christmas. It's such an awesome piece. 

We bought one of those great Ikea ledges to display some beautiful prints, one of Josephine's best pieces of artwork and one of my favourite pictures of my Dad, my sister and I. I'm so happy with how it looks, and how the green and blue hues all compliment eachother. 

We've arranged our glass jars so they all stand together - a look I've always loved and one that looks really cool, even if some of them are half empty ;)

Finally, our fridge is now plastered with Instagram picture magnets. I gave Ben and Josephine some each for Christmas, and after my Dad died we printed more of him for Josephine. So she can see his face everyday, and never forget that beautiful smile of his and the fun she had with him. I talk to his pictures here every morning and evening, and throughout the day. I love seeing our happy faces all together whenever I'm in the kitchen. 

We're so happy with how this little area of house has finally come together. Being right next to Josephine's room, it's given our home a whole other place to hang out as a family; watching Daddy cook, reading books and hearing Phiney play the most amazing games next door. 

THE HOMEMAKER SERIES: SPACES

Over the last couple of years, Josephine's room has grown as she has. And, when after Christmas, she moved into her 'big girl's bed', her room changed again. Not only did the cot get taken down and replaced with a secondhand steal of a bed (thanks eBay!) but we moved the sofa into the kitchen and created a huge play area for her. With a new baby on it's way we wanted to ensure a space downstairs where we could hang out more - Josephine in her room and me in the kitchen - so it made sense to create a second living space in the kitchen (more of which to come soon) and a bedroom with a playroom feel for Phiney. That way I can get on with doing the housework or feeding Coralie, without leaving Josephine with nothing much to do. 

The space left after we moved the sofa was huge, and allowed us really sort her toys out. We're pretty picky with her toys, and I make regular trips to the charity shop with gifted toys that just don't interest her. Still, after Christmas and her birthday, we were left with so SO many toys that she (and we) loved that we needed to get organised. These Ikea shelves are perfect for Josephine - the ideal height that allows her access to her things without Mama or Daddy's help, and a clearly dedicated place for each thing, ensuring tidying up is easier than ever. 

We're not bothered about how messy her room gets during the day - if she's having fun and is happily occupied, who cares about things covering her floor - but before nap time and bedtime, this Mama likes to have a place to put everything; and it makes engaging Josephine in the tidying up process much easier. 

Her books have been divided into those we read together (special books, older books and vintage books - because I can't bear to think they may get a little ruined!!) that still sit on the window sill and then books she loves to read herself that have a special cubby in the new shelving unit. Her toy basket has random bits in, the box is fill with Duplo and building blocks and the vintage house is easy to get to, as is the garage and her abacus. Her other toy boxes are now dedicated to puzzles, dressing up and teddies. Each with it's own box, each easy to access and clear away. 

The picture on the window sill of my Dad and Josephine is one of my favourite corners of this room. I completely love this picture, for so many reasons. I truly feel that my Dad is with Josephine, and all of us, the way he is here; holding her, and our, hands - looking over us, protecting us and walking alongside us, listening, whenever we need him. Josephine and I blow kisses to this picture all the time, and tell Grandpa how much we love and miss him, and cool he was :)

I'd spotted Josephine's bed a while ago and when my friend Amy bought one for her little boy Bertie, I fell in love with it. Before we made the trip to Ikea, I checked out eBay on the off chance there was a bargain to be had, and I found one for about a third of its original price. Score! For bedding, my Nan made the duvet and pillow cover from a vintage sheet I found and my Mum created this amazing quilt for Josephine for Christmas. It will sit on her bed always, and will be treasured forever. A true heirloom and so beautiful. 

Sweet postcards we decorated Josephine's room with before she was born have now made way for another washing line to hang paintings, pictures and postcards from her buddies on (idea stolen from here) and the huge painting above her door was created by Daddy and Phiney one rainy crafternoon; it's massive and awesome! 

Of course the arrival of her new kitchen has occupied a bit more space (again with a handy space for everything...anal Mama much?!) and her little vintage cradle and pram created a sweet little house for this little wannabe Mama. 

We all love this room. It's light, bright, fun and relaxed. And the perfect space for our little girl to grow.  

The Nursery
Changing Spaces

EASTER HOLIDAYS: a little bit of sunshine

It may still be freezing outside, but in here the spring has sprung. The beautiful daffodils my Mum gave me for Easter are now in full bloom and have bought a burst of sunshine into our home. Nothing like a pop of yellow against a crisp white wall. 

Linking up with Lou's Nature in the Home series

THE HOMEMAKER SERIES: SPACES

When we decorated Josephine's nursery, she was still nestled in my belly. I'm so glad we finished her space before she arrived because, despite not even knowing whether she was a boy or girl let alone what her likes would be and what toys she'd love, I'm not sure when it would have got done otherwise (it took me at least 6 months after Phiney was born to clean the whole house in one go let alone decorate).

But as the last year has gone on, Josephine has gathered notes and postcards from penpals, photos of her buddies and certificates from her swimming lessons; she's been given a whole bunch of toys and books, and has created some spectacular artwork. So, we decided it was time to make a few little changes in her room; to reflect her personality and to store all the lovely things she's gathered since she's been here.

^ Toy storage was a serious must after Christmas and her birthday, and while we're very happy to choose secondhand and vintage pieces for the vast majority of things in our house, for this piece we headed straight to Ikea (thanks to my Dad and some of the money he gave Josephine for her birthday). Not only do these drawers come in sweet colours but they're light weight and perfect to get out each morning for Phiney to access her toys as she wants, and quick and easy to put away each evening. Being the anal person I am, the top green box stores wooden puzzles, building blocks and dominoes, the pink box holds random toys and the large white one all the teddies and dolls. We also bought a second green box to slide under the chest of drawers with her cardboard books in. I adore that it's the book box she normally rummages through first. 

^ Empty bowls and shelf space has now been filled with Josephine-related artifacts. Hairbands, clips and bows sit on the chest of drawers in the sweet bowl Ben bought the bump when we were in Cornwall the summer before Josephine was born, and I framed a photo from her first birthday of the three of us to sit pride of place on the window sill next to her ever-growing book collection and her rabbit night light. 

^ Finally, I hung a simple piece of string from two little brass hooks to display sweet notes and pictures that are special to Josephine. The paper heart garland was a little gift from her  penpal Poet and my sister made me the tissue paper flower at least 15 years ago...I love that it now sits in my daughter's room. 

As always, we wanted to create this more personal space on a serious budget (ie. free!) but I'm really pleased with how it's turned out. It's such a lovely place to be and we all spend very happy times in there.