52 Weeks of Happy (24/52)

Hello.

A big thank you for reading and following this week and for your very kind words.  It has certainly been the hardest week to date since starting Jen's 52 Weeks of Happy. I am so glad of this project for keeping me focused on the small happy moments - it has helped me get through a difficult week. Here are my happy moments.

♥ I baked scones (the easiest thing in the whole world to bake) for my Mum and Dad for Mother's Day. Taking a cream tea around to their house was a lovely shared moment. And the tulips I bought my Mum were the palest prettiest pink and haven't drooped at all.

♥ White roses from hubs for Mother's Day. So thoughtful and a week later they are still blooming. They are looking a little vintage now with their aged petals but they are still smelling sweet. I love roses even when they start to age. 

♥ Absence - our fourteen year old went on a school history trip to Belgium to learn more about World War 2. A very grumpy teenager returned – I think he had a good time. So good to have him home... and his washing and muddy footwear.

♥ Spring – just loving the longer lighter days even if the daffodils are looking a little forlorn. I met two friends on Friday afternoon at a favourite café for cake, a bottle of rosé and lots of chat. If you're going to be naughty just go for it, I say. And rosé means spring/summer doesn't it? 

How's your week been? Be happy. 

Claire xo

Minimalist Wardrobe: New Accessories

Accessories make a big difference to a minimalist wardrobe so after dropping a few (hmmm) hints I was very pleased to receive two lovely pieces from People Tree's jewellery range for Mother's Day. 

I already have a few items from People Tree - a cardigan, t-shirt and skirt - and love the fact this company promotes Fair Trade and sustainable fashion. And their clothes are so comfy to wear - that's so important to me these days. However, my wardrobe is more or less complete at the moment so rather than looking at new clothes I've been looking to accessories to add interest and trend to my outfits.

What I love about these two new pieces is the colour – I've been infatuated with coral since buying my sequinned top last year and know that these earrings (Dana bead earrings) will chime beautifully with this top and update other pieces too. And yellow brings a bit of brightness to anything so these bangles (6 palm bangles) will cheer my black jeans and my summer whites. 

People Tree is one of the ethical companies I turn to when I need to update my wardrobe. Knowing that these earrings are handmade in India and the bangles are made from sustainable keya palm leaf means a lot to me. 

Oh, and thank you boys for my lovely gifts xo

How's your minimalist wardrobe coming along? Do you rely on accessories to update your wardrobe?

Never Far From Tidy

I don't mind clutter. In fact, I always find a good tidy-up to be therapeutic. 

Never far from tidy is how I'd describe our house. Most things have their own place and it doesn't take long to bring order to our clutter hotspots – the worktop in the kitchen, the coffee table in the lounge and the hall floor. 

When life gets busy clutter does build up. Clutter is a normal. I don't mind living with a few misplaced items lying around the house – in fact I quite like the house to look a bit lived in. But sometimes (especially if we're expecting visitors) I feel compelled to put everything in order. 

The great thing is that since major decluttering and moving to a smaller house having a tidy-up is no longer a gargantuan task and it doesn't take up hours of my time. Here's a few tips just in case you need them.

Quick tidy-up tips

• Start downstairs and work through a room at a time.
• Throw away out of date newspapers and mail.
• Empty any bins.
• Collect stray items together and put away item by item or if you don't have time put them in one container to deal with later.
• Put away items that belong in cupboards - iron, toaster etc...
• Put all laundry and laundry rack away.
• Clear shoes and coats from the hall apart from what you need that day.
• Plump up cushions.
• Put things into piles.
• Clear worktops as much as possible.
• Wipe surfaces quickly.
• Use a dustpan and brush for the floor for a quick fix.

Job done! 

image via pinterest

Nature in the Home

Hello all.

I've always loved gyp (gypsophila) - a cottage garden plant with masses of tiny pom-pom like white flowers. In a beautiful wedding bouquet or in the simplest of vases it adds an air of romance. 

Sooo pretty (and cheap) it lasts and lasts... the perfect match for our vintage glass bottles.

Very happy to be joining in with Lou from little green shed and her Nature in the Home series.

Why not check out the lovely entries?

I Don't Buy Simple

'Simplicity the New Trend' is something that I keep reading on the front covers of magazines and in catalogues. And to be honest I'm getting a bit tired of these mixed messages and indirect attempts to make me part with my money. Subliminal messages like this really get my goat:

Buy this magazine and read about the new pared down look for homes.
Buy less but better quality clothes for your wardrobe.
Buy this cookbook and learn how to cook from scratch instead of buying ready meals. 
Buy this amazing cosmetic and simplify your beauty routine.

All of this is indicative of a desire for less stuff and a slower pace of life. Great. But hang on a minute... you don't have to buy simplicity, do you? Surely you can simplify without visiting an expensive department store.   

Instead of buying simplicity

1. Remove clutter from a room and give your favourite items more space to shine.
2. Reduce your wardrobe to your favourite items and wear them more often. Then celebrate your fabulous style.
3. Dust off your recipe books and experiment with a recipe you've never tried before.
4. Clear out your make up bag, wash your brushes and give yourself a different look.
5. Swap old magazines with a friend instead of buying new ones.

OK, there's the possibility your home may feel a bit bare and your wardrobe a bit sparse but I bet you can live with less than you think. Ask yourself, “Is buying new simple stuff really going to simplify my life?” I suggest getting your possessions in order first, adjust to living with less and then consider your future purchases very carefully. 

We don't need to buy into this marketing trend for simplicity. Sorry, marketing people but I think we can sort out simple for ourselves without that over priced clean-lined sofa that you'd like us to buy. 

The real trend setters don't follow fashion and don't need to be told what to buy. In fact they don't buy much at all. Great style, whether it's in the home or in your wardrobe, evolves over time and comes from having the confidence to sometimes ignore fashion.

I'd rather live with what I've got, consider my purchases carefully and spend my money (if I choose to) on experiences. And I've got better things to do with my spare time than shop. 

How about you? 

source

Softly

Sadly, my dear friend passed away yesterday.
My thoughts, love and prayers go to her family.

Words can comfort.
Here are mine.

Softly

On my journey
you held my hand.
A purple candle flickers
as I stroke yours.
Silence breaks as I 
struggle 
to find the words 
you spoke easily. 

I will take your hopes and dreams with me.
Your laughter, courage and open heart will be my brightly floating scarves,
my artist's palette,
my diaphanous wings.

My fears are not yours and my sorrow does not belong here with you.
I feel your strength 
my beautiful friend
and know this is not the end.

I must go now. 

Softly
I whisper
God bless
and kiss your head.

Image by Laura Evans via Etsy

52 Weeks of Happy (23/52)

Hello. A very late 52 Weeks of Happy due to feeling a little bleh this week. Thank you all for understanding.

This week my main happies are my family and friends but I would also like to mention the following.

♥ Feeling very maternal. My fourteen year old son has been to A & E this week after falling on some concrete steps at school (whilst playing tig... hmmm). He had a gash on the head and a badly bruised and swollen hand but he is absolutely fine. He received excellent care but when we got the phone call from his school the world shook for my baby. His apologetic, “I'm sorry for causing you worry”, only made me want to hug him more. 
♥ Having the house all to myself. Hubs, who works from home, had a meeting on one of my days off. Bliss – I don't get the house to myself very often. 
♥ Empty shelves. The birthday cards are all down (until Mother's Day) and I've been enjoying the tidier shelves. I don't have many objects on display but I still enjoy moving them around. These vintage bottles (collected many years ago) used to be in the loft in our old house but are now proudly on display.
♥ Cupcakes and a walk making us feel happy on yet another grey day. However, we did notice breaks in the clouds and opening buds on trees. Hello spring we know you're there.

This project set up by Jen from Little Birdie is a favourite part of my blogging week. Looking for happiness when life gets tough is hard but healing.

Be happy and as always thanks for reading xo

Let's Celebrate...

Hello.

Just a quick drop in to wish you all a Happy Friday and good weekend.
One of the things I'm enjoying most about blogging is the discussion generated by some of my posts. Honestly, I think you can learn more and get more insight into a topic from reading the comments than the original post. And it's interesting getting to know a little more about the readers of a blog through their comments over time. 

Well here's a discussion point to cheer up a dreary Friday in the UK.
Today is National Middle Name Pride Day. The idea is to celebrate your middle name, take pride in it and reveal it to at least three people who don't already know what it is. Also, it might be fun to check out the origin of your middle name.

As you can see mine is Nicola (origin Greek, meaning victory of the people). I like my middle name. My parents chose Claire as it couldn't be shortened. Just think of the fun I could have had shortening Nicola. 

Over to you. Do you like your middle name? Care to reveal...