a link list and a to do list

So friends, I have been neglecting this little space what with all the moving, to-ing and fro-ing. Plus little Vin has taken to <5am wakeups which kill the rest of the day for me, meaning I can't motivate myself to bake or make stuff (or shower or clean my house, but I'm nott oo bothered about that bit).

I feel kind of in limbo in my new house, I have so many ideas for projects and decorating stuff and there are still unpacked boxes all over the place. Which is how this box-car came about:

And making fun out of junk has kind of got me thinking, about this blogspace and my job and what the future of our little family holds. I'm not making any big decisions right now, but maybe there will be some big changes soon.

Speaking of my job, I just wanted to say how humbling and amazing it was to watch my doctors in action in this Channel 4 documentary. Really puts thing into perspective when I watch my colleagues stress about an unread e-mail.

So that's what I've been doing, here's a little plan for what I will be doing:

I've been toying with the idea of getting a blackboard for the kitchen, to write menus and fun plans on (hopefully not just doctors appointments and reminders about washing up!) I was worried it would look too dark in the small space, so I thought I'd test-run with some black cardstock and our plans for tomorrow. We'll be having pancakes for brunch, speanding the afternoon in Crystal Palace Park, followed by a little date at Soulcialize, CP's new cupcakery, roast potatoes (our Sunday tradition) and... a little joke between David and me. See I always go on about Sunday being family day, and he always tells me with a nudge that when Vinnie goes to bed it becomes 'Mommy Daddy time'... in truth we will have a bottle of wine and a packet of m&ms and fall asleep in front of Desperate Housewives.

Some link love for your weekend:

Umm yes, I love this pinhole camera book

I've been doing lots of reading on Slow Family Movement which might be inspiring some of those big changes I talked about earlier

obsessing about Vin's first proper bedroom, I have been loving the boys rooms on ohdeedoh

Hilarious Soviet Wedding pictures on Regretsy

Little Vin becomes "terrible two year old Vin" in just four months... which means party planning starts now. Loving these birthday party invitations spotted on The Sweetest Occasion



Hope your weekend is full of cupcakes, park action and 'moves' (ahem),

Blue Skies,

Charlotte xo

a link list full of caffeine

First, I just wanted to say thankyou to everyone who commented, tweeted and e-mailed after seeing my guest post on Frosting for the Cause. As I have mentioned (several times) I think it is such a great project and worthwhile cause and I hope more people get involved or consider making a donation.

So while I was thinking and obsessing over coffee flavoured cupcakes, my mind wandered to other caffeinated treats:

... like these e-cards from Kate Spade (and while we're loving Ms Spade I love this thermos too)

... and this Je t-aime coffee cup wrappers from Eat Drink Chic that I fall in love with every time I see them

... I have been meaning to make tiramisu since like forever and will most definitely be getting round to it now I've seen these Tiramisu Cups from Sprinkle Bakes

... Vietnamese coffee ice-pops - you know I am obsessed with these already!

... I bought coffee filters witht he hopes of making these coffee filter pom poms spotted on Creature Comforts but mine looked nothing like those lovely white discs... so I used them to wrap beignets with instead

... and of course my Coffee Cakes for Latte Lovers featured on Frosting for the Cause

espresso print via artocrat

a friday link list

Rainbow Cake by Domestikated

did you like the Baking Kit I made for Vinnie? You might wanna check out this awesome nightstand to play kitchen from sweet and lovely crafts

you know we love brunch in this house, like this one and this Valentines one - so you know we love these brunch recipes from Martha

totally inspired by Kate's fabulous rainbow cake we're gonna be making some rainbow cupcakes like
these this weekend

oh yes I love the sound of this Shamrock Shake but if you'd prefer a healthy version, try this Green Smoothie from One Charming Party

and while we're thinking green and lucky how about this clover cootie catcher from A Subtle Revelry


Have a great weekend folks!
Blue Skies,
Charlotte xo

a friday link list

So friends, another month of 2011 has passed. Are you still sticking to your New Years Resolutions? My promise of 'more' has been taxed the last couple of weeks, with illness rolling round the T-P house and knocking us all out like a relay race. But I'm getting back on track, and the Spring feelings are definitely cracking through the icy coldness that has seized London. With Spring in mind, a few links to cheer you out of the gloom:

Rainbow Wrapped gifts from 'More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts' spotted on Be Different, Act Normal

you know I think this is the best thing ever - sparkly homemade play-dough

when I grow up I want an Alice in Wonderland Wedding with UV mushrooms and a Dracula crown

I have a lot of baking planned for the weekend, and this caramelized banana loaf cake from Shutterbean just topped the list

as well as the extensive baking frenzy, I will be off making the world a nicer place

Blue Skies,

Charlotte xo

a friday link list on a Saturday

so I posted last weeks link list on a Monday, this weeks on Saturday... jeez I don't know what's happening to all my good blogger habits. Actually, I do, a mixture of all of us being hit with nasty colds and putting in extra hours at work has meant my weekends spent scheduling that weeks posts have not been happening. But I promise next week back to normal (ish). Anyway, while we're still on a loving the boy vibe, here are some boy-friendly links for the rest of your weekends viewing pleasure:

Pretty in Pink Onesie

vintage popart superhero party - quite possibly my four favourite words

dino pants (!) - spotted on bloesem kids

if you liked my homemade toxic slime check back on Monday for a girly version (cheating, I know)

seriously the cutest name announcement video on Dear Baby - little mister gets a name

what are little boys made of cupcakes

Here's to Blue Skies & Baby Boys!

Charlotte xo

a friday link list on a monday

So... Friday's link list somehow ended up being Monday's list, I'm not sure how that happened, the weeks are running away from me.

Since we are joining in with '30 Days of BOY' hosted by Dana Made It and Made by Rae, I thought I'd do a little boy round up this week:

Wish I had a birthday coming up so I could throw an awesome Dinosaur Party with this great party plan from One Charming Party - p.s. sign up to their newsletter to get half off party plans!

Didja like my Wrap-it like Cowboys & Indians post? Check back next week for a cops and robbers wrap-it

Yes, I love it, but with all the ruffles, sparkles and other pretty things, I have to say Etsy is a little girl-centric. Which is why Etsy for Baby Boys is such a brilliant site - like a personal shopper for handmade boy stuff!

I touched upon my gender neutral toy preferences when I posted these felt car mats, I don't know why I never thought about a boy-doll before!

Happy Monday Folks!

 

an extra large link list of love

this printable valentine from Draw Pilgrim

did you see my chilli chocolate hearts yesterday?

can I get away with wearing these heart shaped button covers from Martha?

bubble valentines and 'made with love' tag from armelle

still at a loss for gift ideas? avoid the expected with my anti-cliche gift guide and this

gift guide pour homme for the man in your life

gifting sugar? you need these printable candy cards

oh my good lord I love these je t'aime coffee cup wrappers

stationary fetish? how about a post-it note rose

looking for something that's not pink or heart shaped? Love these: 'you maki me happy' sushi card and keys to my heart v-day artwork from Paper Plate and Plane

I see one of these Love Rocks painted like the earth with a

'you rock my world' note somewhere in my V-Day future

I'm definitely in love with this Valentine popcorn picnic from Eat Drink Chic 

(I have the 'bon appetit' flags printed and ready to adorn some breakfast cutlery)

'love' letterpress from heartfishpress

still not satisfied? jump in your time machine to last weeks link list of love

Blue Skies,

Charlotte xo

a friday link list full of love

cupids arrow treat bags from Creature Comforts

Since V-Day is also a work day, I think we will be enjoying this valentine pizza for dinner

need somewhere for your lovenotes? how about this chalkboard diy

given my love of bunting, I will be decorating my home with plenty of these heartstrings garlands

bored of chocolate? head down to the grocers with these printable fruit stickers

20 handmade valentines in 20 days - so many creative ideas outside of the usual pink and red heart combo

love this edible valentine confetti

oh, and St Valentine, if you're listening, I would be easily won over by the Anthro China Cabinet Bracelet spotted on yesterday on tuesday

a friday link list - doilies extravaganza

via

did you guys enjoy my doily bowl project earlier this week? I call it a tutorial but really one photo sums up all the steps!

I hope you've not had enough doily love yet (esp. since all the decor and invites for my birthday party are doily-centric!) Here are my favourite projects from around the blogosphere:

Doily Pillow Tutorial by Rachel Denbow

Plaster of Paris doily bowls

Gilded doily votives from One Pearl Button

frosted doily mirror from papernstitch - p.s. have you read Brittni's 'Handmade for the Holidays' e-mag - if not indulge yourself in some serious eye-candy

cupcake wrappers - such an easy diy, you need to try this

Doily hooplas - can you believe I actually made one of these this week and didn't take a photo before I posted it halfway across the world?! So annoyed, but hopefully the recipient will take a super awesome photo of my handiwork

and next week there will be more doily loveliness and a hell of a lot of party planning going on!

via

Blue Skies,
Charlotte xo

a friday link list

via

I absolutely love the concept of Pay it Forward, my favourite sugestion: "Tape the exact change for a soda or snack to a vending machine" - look out for my list on 'Random Acts of Kindness Day' (17th February) - if you don't read any other blog today, read this one!

Some other things from this week:

I fell in love with this Quiet Book made by the talented mamas of Serving Pink Lemonade

I spliced open my son's Rubber Duckie in the name of crafting!

Spent a lot of time thinking about this post on Heirloom Crafting, so much in our lives is disposable that our crafting should be geared towards sustainable, lasting and joyful projects

Some great lunch ideas on Shutterbean this week

I know macarons are probably so last year when they were blog de rigeur and every magazine was heralding them as the new cupcake. I'm pretty sure they're vaguely uncool now, so they'll fit right in at the granny chic birthday party I'm having at the end of the month. Got a great recipe to share? I will mostly be reading Emily's tips for the perfect macaron for the next two weeks!

... while we're talking about baking tips and birthday parties, you should probably read How to Ice a Cake from Prudent Baby

... and still talking about baking, I will be baking a difference with Frosting for the Cause on March 30th!

Coming up this week wrap it with a doilie and a gift guide for a tea lover


Blue Skies,
Charlotte xo

a friday link list

printable via

Mostly this week I have been loving reading all the hopes, dreams, goals and themes that this year is dedicated to. Like this manifesto, seven habits for the new year, these goals, this inspiring story and these 'non-goals'

Have you sent your thankyou notes yet? Nope, not me either Miss Manners. That's why I love these printable colour-able thankyou notes for the kiddos to personalise

Leftover nye champagne? Not in this house! but if you're not a lush like me try Nigella's Champagne Risotto or Champagne Truffle Pots...

...while we're on the subject of leftovers, did you see yesterday's wrap-it?

They might be selling 2011 calendars at mark down prices but it's not too late to put together one of these

index card journals

Looking forward... The Happiness Project London shared this great list of fun things to do in January

and next week I will be sharing a gift guide for a blogger geek and a USB DIY project, great for anyone who uses a computer regularly

Happy Weekend Folks!

Blue Skies,
Charlotte xo