M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas or festive season with your loved ones!
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Getting Festive!
With only 3 days until Christmas, I wanted to show you how we made our flat look festive! We put up our tree, got out all of our decorations and displayed all the new ones we bought in Cologne. Along with the tree we also have the ornament tree I added last year, which I use to display some of my favourites. As usual we totally underestimated the time it would take to put the tree up, string all the different lights around it along with all the garlands and that was before we even started on the decorations!
Again this year we had quite a few {I think there are 11} new additions to the trees, collected throughout the year on our travels. They include a gold metal star from Bratislava; a painted glass bauble from Vienna; a wooden ornament from Marrakech; a red metal star from Bakewell; a beaded ornament I made myself {the second pic below}; a glass tree which was a gift from a friend and quite a few we bought in Cologne in November. They were two red tin Santa's, a 5 coloured decoration, a metal star and a wooden tree.
Again this year we had quite a few {I think there are 11} new additions to the trees, collected throughout the year on our travels. They include a gold metal star from Bratislava; a painted glass bauble from Vienna; a wooden ornament from Marrakech; a red metal star from Bakewell; a beaded ornament I made myself {the second pic below}; a glass tree which was a gift from a friend and quite a few we bought in Cologne in November. They were two red tin Santa's, a 5 coloured decoration, a metal star and a wooden tree.
In front of the ornament tree I have another new item for 2011, a tree, snowman & pudding set I got in the Paperchase sale after Christmas last year along with a couple of snowmen which I used to hang on the tree. We also bought a few other things in Cologne, including a reindeer on a spring which we hung from a lamp so it can be pulled down and a red acrylic reindeer & red acrylic Santa from Muji, which I stood beside the acrylic trees I got from Habitat a while ago. I added in a ceramic owl from M&S, a bouncing snowman we also got in Bakewell and we also have a mini teal tree I got from Paperchase a while ago and a dancing snowmen couple on the floor.
I'm working until tomorrow although we do have our work Christmas lunch as well so it will be a short morning, then we are going down to Grahams parents on Christmas Eve to stay with them for three nights. With my parents visiting my sister and family in Australia for Christmas and for the arrival of my niece, we swapped presents and said bye to them last night, we are spending Christmas Day with all of Grahams family. On Boxing Day we have been invited to my aunts for dinner with my aunt, uncle and cousin then we will come back to our flat briefly on the 27th before meeting Grahams family for dinner to celebrate his Nana's 90th Birthday. We don't have any plans for the 28th so I'm hoping for a relaxing day, with maybe some shopping and a meal with Grahams parents, then on the 29th we are off to Norton House Hotel to stay for the night and enjoy some time in the spa and a lovely meal. Ive hopefully going to book myself a long pregnancy massage which I intend to thoroughly enjoy as part of what I guess will be our last quiet Christmas; although I cant wait until we have our little boy running around next year!
Friday, 16 December 2011
Nursery Progress: Grey Stripes
We have finally made some progress on the nursery!
As you may have seen from some of my nursery pins, we loved the idea of painting grey stripes on one wall. The room was still painted magnolia from when we moved in, as you can see below, so Graham started by painting the whole room white and glossing all the woodwork. I then forgot to take a photo of the room before we started the next stage!
Having read a few tutorials online before we started, everyone recommended Frog Tape as the thing to use if you wanted sharp lines with no paint bleed, rather than standard masking tape. We didn't want to put the tape on until we were ready to paint in case it damaged the freshly painted white wall, so we left that to dry and cure for almost three weeks until we were ready to get started.
Once we had measured the wall and decided how many stripes we wanted, it was time to get taping. The wall we chose to paint was just over 2m high so we decided to have 8 stripes at 25cm each, starting with grey at the top, leaving the bottom white section slightly larger, since it wouldn't really be noticed. Starting at the top, Graham measured 25cm down at a few points and marked the wall before joining the dots with the tape. The first stripe we drew a full pencil line first but then realised that just meant more hassle and more to rub out later. Graham carried on down the wall, measuring 25cm from each line above, to keep everything in line with the stripe above. We put tape along the top and bottom of each full 25cm grey stripe, which meant the areas to remain white in between ended up smaller, as they included the two 40mm tape thicknesses within their 25cm. This helped when we came to paint and as you can see we also taped the edge of each grey stripe with no tape on the white sections.
When it was time to paint we took a roller each then got started. It wasn't particularly easy for me to help paint the highest or lowest stripe so Graham did do most of the painting, but at least I contributed! We did the first coat, shown in the first photo, then left it for around an hour before painting the second. There were a couple of spots where a bit of grey paint managed to land on a white section, which might have been my fault, but we quickly touched them up and now they cant be seen.
Once both coats were complete we only left it for a few minutes before removing all of the tape, so the paint didn't dry over the tape and get pulled off later. The first photo below shows the wall just after we removed the tape and the second was a few hours later when it had almost completely dried. We were a bit nervous pulling off the tape but thankfully it turned out perfect and we were both delighted with the result. There was no bleeding under the tape at all and the only slight issue was one tiny bit of white paint that got pulled off, but we managed to touch it up no problem and now you cant even see it. I'm so glad we decided to tackle the stripes rather than going with wallpaper or just painting the whole wall grey as we love how it turned out.
After we had finished the stripes, Graham built the cot which had been delivered that morning, along with the car seat, seat base and rocking moses basket stand, and we also put the new curtains up. I was so pleased the grey of the cot looked ok against the wall, as we hadn't thought to check beforehand.
Now we just need to buy a chest of drawers, a chair, maybe some wall shelves, a bookcase and some art for the walls!
As you may have seen from some of my nursery pins, we loved the idea of painting grey stripes on one wall. The room was still painted magnolia from when we moved in, as you can see below, so Graham started by painting the whole room white and glossing all the woodwork. I then forgot to take a photo of the room before we started the next stage!
To find the perfect grey colour we had previously tried a few paint swatches from the Grey Steel & Night Jewels Dulux Tailor Made Colour ranges against the white in our living room. After looking at loads and loads of grey options these were really the only ones which didn't have any hints of blue or green. We then bought a tester of Grey Steel 2, the 3rd one down in the photo, which we loved when we painted a bit on the white wall, behind our travel map so it wouldn't be seen!
Having read a few tutorials online before we started, everyone recommended Frog Tape as the thing to use if you wanted sharp lines with no paint bleed, rather than standard masking tape. We didn't want to put the tape on until we were ready to paint in case it damaged the freshly painted white wall, so we left that to dry and cure for almost three weeks until we were ready to get started.
Once we had measured the wall and decided how many stripes we wanted, it was time to get taping. The wall we chose to paint was just over 2m high so we decided to have 8 stripes at 25cm each, starting with grey at the top, leaving the bottom white section slightly larger, since it wouldn't really be noticed. Starting at the top, Graham measured 25cm down at a few points and marked the wall before joining the dots with the tape. The first stripe we drew a full pencil line first but then realised that just meant more hassle and more to rub out later. Graham carried on down the wall, measuring 25cm from each line above, to keep everything in line with the stripe above. We put tape along the top and bottom of each full 25cm grey stripe, which meant the areas to remain white in between ended up smaller, as they included the two 40mm tape thicknesses within their 25cm. This helped when we came to paint and as you can see we also taped the edge of each grey stripe with no tape on the white sections.
When it was time to paint we took a roller each then got started. It wasn't particularly easy for me to help paint the highest or lowest stripe so Graham did do most of the painting, but at least I contributed! We did the first coat, shown in the first photo, then left it for around an hour before painting the second. There were a couple of spots where a bit of grey paint managed to land on a white section, which might have been my fault, but we quickly touched them up and now they cant be seen.
Once both coats were complete we only left it for a few minutes before removing all of the tape, so the paint didn't dry over the tape and get pulled off later. The first photo below shows the wall just after we removed the tape and the second was a few hours later when it had almost completely dried. We were a bit nervous pulling off the tape but thankfully it turned out perfect and we were both delighted with the result. There was no bleeding under the tape at all and the only slight issue was one tiny bit of white paint that got pulled off, but we managed to touch it up no problem and now you cant even see it. I'm so glad we decided to tackle the stripes rather than going with wallpaper or just painting the whole wall grey as we love how it turned out.
After we had finished the stripes, Graham built the cot which had been delivered that morning, along with the car seat, seat base and rocking moses basket stand, and we also put the new curtains up. I was so pleased the grey of the cot looked ok against the wall, as we hadn't thought to check beforehand.
Now we just need to buy a chest of drawers, a chair, maybe some wall shelves, a bookcase and some art for the walls!
Friday, 9 December 2011
32 Weeks
Reaching 32+5 weeks means we are down to single figures with less than 8 weeks to go. The baby is the size of a squash (or a jicama, whatever that is).
As you can see my bump is still growing a lot! I can still get away with wearing a few normal tops or vests providing they are long enough, otherwise its all maternity clothes. Although I think my bump is quite big I've been told by more than one person this week that they don't think so at all, and since its all out the front it doesn't look too big; one was surprised that I only had 8 weeks to go! Unsurprisingly I haven't managed to take a photo every week since my last update although I did manage one in Cologne at 31 weeks and one on Sunday when I was exactly 32 weeks.
It was my 30th birthday on Saturday so after having a delicious afternoon tea at Mimi's in Edinburgh, my parents had some family and friends round to their house on Sunday for another homemade afternoon tea to celebrate. Its not quite how I imagined my 30th to be, 32 weeks pregnant, but I will make up for it once the baby arrives!
We have been quite busy the last few weeks clearing out the spare room, especially the wardrobe, ready for it to be transformed into the nursery and have some space for things for the baby; we also painted the room white and glossed all the woodwork. I say we but I really mean Graham. The cot and car seat are getting delivered this weekend so we are going to paint the grey stripes on the wall on Saturday, lets hope it goes well!
We also spent the last weekend in November in Cologne for a long weekend, to see the Christmas markets, celebrate my birthday early and enjoy our last holiday with just the two of us; a full recap will come at some point but the city was fantastic. The weekend before I had also enjoyed Christmas in November with the blogging six girls.
My antenatal classes have now finished, the last one was on Wednesday. At my previous midwife appointment four weeks ago, I was measuring exactly 28cm and I got my anti-D injection as well as my flu jab and yet more blood taken. I had an appointment to see the neurologist at the hospital, as my mum had a blood clot in her lung in 2008 and they wanted to see me. Although my blood screening was clear, they still want me to take blood thinning injections for 6 weeks as soon as I've given birth which should be interesting. I saw the midwife again yesterday and everything was good, although I'm now only measuring 31cm instead of 32, which isn't a problem at this point. We have NCT antenatal classes starting next week, which Graham is able to come to as they are all in the evenings with one at the weekend.
There have been lots of babies arriving too; Grahams cousin had a baby girl Amy, who we got to see when she had just gotten home at 4 days old. Three of my friends have also had their babies in the last month, two with girls and one boy. One of Grahams friends wife's in due in the middle of December then my sister is due at Christmas.
Once we have painted the nursery stripes this weekend, we also want to make up the cot and maybe go and buy the other furniture we want on Sunday, as well as visiting my friend and their new baby. Our pram arrived at my parents last weekend although its still in its box just now until we get a chance to make it up! Next weekend we are having a Christmas dinner celebration with my parents at Norton House (the hotel we had our wedding reception in) since they are going to spend Christmas in Australia with my sister and her family. Between Christmas and new year I'm also hoping to go to the spa there to get myself a pregnancy massage with some of the money I received for my birthday.
In other news, I also won my very first giveaway this week. I entered to win a 2012 Around the World Calendar from Mr & Mrs Globetrot. All you had to do was leave a comment letting them know one trip you are planning to take in 2012. I told them that our travel plans in 2012 would be a little different from 2011 but that we were planning a trip to Australia next year with the baby to visit my sister and family.
As you can see my bump is still growing a lot! I can still get away with wearing a few normal tops or vests providing they are long enough, otherwise its all maternity clothes. Although I think my bump is quite big I've been told by more than one person this week that they don't think so at all, and since its all out the front it doesn't look too big; one was surprised that I only had 8 weeks to go! Unsurprisingly I haven't managed to take a photo every week since my last update although I did manage one in Cologne at 31 weeks and one on Sunday when I was exactly 32 weeks.
It was my 30th birthday on Saturday so after having a delicious afternoon tea at Mimi's in Edinburgh, my parents had some family and friends round to their house on Sunday for another homemade afternoon tea to celebrate. Its not quite how I imagined my 30th to be, 32 weeks pregnant, but I will make up for it once the baby arrives!
Mimi's Afternoon Tea
We have been quite busy the last few weeks clearing out the spare room, especially the wardrobe, ready for it to be transformed into the nursery and have some space for things for the baby; we also painted the room white and glossed all the woodwork. I say we but I really mean Graham. The cot and car seat are getting delivered this weekend so we are going to paint the grey stripes on the wall on Saturday, lets hope it goes well!
We also spent the last weekend in November in Cologne for a long weekend, to see the Christmas markets, celebrate my birthday early and enjoy our last holiday with just the two of us; a full recap will come at some point but the city was fantastic. The weekend before I had also enjoyed Christmas in November with the blogging six girls.
My antenatal classes have now finished, the last one was on Wednesday. At my previous midwife appointment four weeks ago, I was measuring exactly 28cm and I got my anti-D injection as well as my flu jab and yet more blood taken. I had an appointment to see the neurologist at the hospital, as my mum had a blood clot in her lung in 2008 and they wanted to see me. Although my blood screening was clear, they still want me to take blood thinning injections for 6 weeks as soon as I've given birth which should be interesting. I saw the midwife again yesterday and everything was good, although I'm now only measuring 31cm instead of 32, which isn't a problem at this point. We have NCT antenatal classes starting next week, which Graham is able to come to as they are all in the evenings with one at the weekend.
There have been lots of babies arriving too; Grahams cousin had a baby girl Amy, who we got to see when she had just gotten home at 4 days old. Three of my friends have also had their babies in the last month, two with girls and one boy. One of Grahams friends wife's in due in the middle of December then my sister is due at Christmas.
Once we have painted the nursery stripes this weekend, we also want to make up the cot and maybe go and buy the other furniture we want on Sunday, as well as visiting my friend and their new baby. Our pram arrived at my parents last weekend although its still in its box just now until we get a chance to make it up! Next weekend we are having a Christmas dinner celebration with my parents at Norton House (the hotel we had our wedding reception in) since they are going to spend Christmas in Australia with my sister and her family. Between Christmas and new year I'm also hoping to go to the spa there to get myself a pregnancy massage with some of the money I received for my birthday.
In other news, I also won my very first giveaway this week. I entered to win a 2012 Around the World Calendar from Mr & Mrs Globetrot. All you had to do was leave a comment letting them know one trip you are planning to take in 2012. I told them that our travel plans in 2012 would be a little different from 2011 but that we were planning a trip to Australia next year with the baby to visit my sister and family.
It was announced on the 1st that I had won and I'm looking forward to receiving the calendar of their gorgeous photos.
Saturday, 3 December 2011
My 30th Birthday
Its my 30th Birthday today!
Unlike the last couple of years when we have been in Florida for my birthday, this year we are at home, since we took our last baby free trip to the Christmas markets in Cologne last weekend.
This morning we are going round to my parents so we can skype with my sister, brother-in-law and nephew in Oz then we are going to do some shopping before meeting my parents at Mimi's in Leith for afternoon tea. Tomorrow my parents are hosting some of my family and friends at their house for another afternoon tea to celebrate.
At almost 32 weeks pregnant, its not exactly how I thought my 30th would be but I'm looking forward to a lovely weekend.
Unlike the last couple of years when we have been in Florida for my birthday, this year we are at home, since we took our last baby free trip to the Christmas markets in Cologne last weekend.
This morning we are going round to my parents so we can skype with my sister, brother-in-law and nephew in Oz then we are going to do some shopping before meeting my parents at Mimi's in Leith for afternoon tea. Tomorrow my parents are hosting some of my family and friends at their house for another afternoon tea to celebrate.
At almost 32 weeks pregnant, its not exactly how I thought my 30th would be but I'm looking forward to a lovely weekend.
Friday, 2 December 2011
Christmas in November!
After celebrating an early Christmas in October with my family, the 19th of November brought Christmas in November with my fellow Blogging Six girls; Conversation Pieces, My Spare Thoughts, Daydreams in Lace, This Girl Is... & A Dizzy Girl.
I was bridesmaid dress shopping for my best friends wedding in the morning {being pregnant I just spectated while the other two bridesmaids tried the dresses on} then I met the girls at Coco's before we headed down to Mimi's in Leith for lunch, where we were going to swap our secret santa gifts. The rules for the secret santa were a small bought present and something homemade and I think its safe to say we were all quite nervous about handing over our gifts. However, everyone loved what they had been given and what had been made for them so there was no need for the nerves. You can read some of the other posts the girls have written about our secret santa here, here & here.
I had Lisa-Marie so I bought her a letterpress art print with the Christmas Dickens quote on it from Etsy, which I framed in a simple black box frame.
After all of the presents had been opened the girls then had a final surprise for me; two baby gifts from the blogging six. The first was a Jellycat dog for the baby which will sit beside the bunny and lion we already have. The second was a gorgeous Rob Ryan ceramic tile which says 'Our Adventure is About to Begin', definitely fitting for the next few months ahead. The tile is currently sitting on a mini easel in our living room until the nursery is finished and we can find a space for it there.
I just wanted to say a massive thank you again to all the girls for the gifts, it was completely unexpected but a lovely surprise. I love the tile and think it made the perfect gift.
I was bridesmaid dress shopping for my best friends wedding in the morning {being pregnant I just spectated while the other two bridesmaids tried the dresses on} then I met the girls at Coco's before we headed down to Mimi's in Leith for lunch, where we were going to swap our secret santa gifts. The rules for the secret santa were a small bought present and something homemade and I think its safe to say we were all quite nervous about handing over our gifts. However, everyone loved what they had been given and what had been made for them so there was no need for the nerves. You can read some of the other posts the girls have written about our secret santa here, here & here.
I had Lisa-Marie so I bought her a letterpress art print with the Christmas Dickens quote on it from Etsy, which I framed in a simple black box frame.
For the handmade element I made some snow snowflake wine charms and gift tags. Of course I didn't think to actually take pictures of any of them but you can see them over on Lisa-Marie's post. I think she liked them all as there were a few tears shed.
My gift, from Zoe, was a rubber stamp and ink pad, which was perfect for me. The stamp is from Present & Correct and says 'from the desk of' with a typewriter on it. Little did Zoe know that it had been in my Etsy favourites for months and months and I'm now delighted that I have one.
For her handmade element, I was given 4 gorgeous plaster G initials. Using an idea from Zoe, I'm maybe going to decorate one with some of my washi tape and maybe another with some stamping before I hang them on our tree. Thank you again Zoe for all the lovely gifts.
After all of the presents had been opened the girls then had a final surprise for me; two baby gifts from the blogging six. The first was a Jellycat dog for the baby which will sit beside the bunny and lion we already have. The second was a gorgeous Rob Ryan ceramic tile which says 'Our Adventure is About to Begin', definitely fitting for the next few months ahead. The tile is currently sitting on a mini easel in our living room until the nursery is finished and we can find a space for it there.
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