Experimenting with Minimalism

I've been wanting to experiment with minimalism and simple living for a while now, and have decided it's time to stop procrastinating and try it out. So I have emptied out one of the drawers beneath our bed. I think its a pretty reasonable size to live out of. Step one is to empty assorted crap out of the drawer, in this case spare bed linen and DS game cases.
Remove drawer and give it a good spritzing of Dettol and a dust down. The whole drawer had a musty quality and needed a freshen up.

I decided to add a little bit of jazz to my drawer so I lined it with some rather sexy jelly bean wrapping paper.
And here is my drawer back under the bed with my capsule wardrobe. I will take another photo in a few days to show you how it has progressed. Lots of downsizing and space saving posts coming this way soon lol
x x x

Freebie Day

I have decided to name today Freebie Day. So many lovely things have come my way. First I picked up the new John Lewis magazine in Waitrose. It's really good this month and has quite a vintage theme, so make sure you shabby chiqers out there nab one quick.
Next was lots of free samples as I walked through the Tuesday market, olives from the Greek foods stall, a few cubes of brownie and cookie from a new baked goods stall and finally a sample of the new pasta salad in a local cafe/take away place. And there was still more to come.
Then I was given two dozen plums, a massive handful of runner beans and lots of baby carrots.
From a really sweet friend. I took the photo after processing them for the freezer and remembering that I hadn't taken a photo d'oh!

And finally our wedding rings arrived today!! Now these were definitely not free but when I tried mine on next to me engagement ring (top ring) it looked filthy. So the lovely gent in a local jewellers gave it a free clean and polish for me, when I went to pay him the £2 he usually charges he said I could have it free as an early wedding present. Now they look even better together and I'm almost ready now for my big day.
10 freebies in one day, this is definitely a personal record for me.
x x x x

P.S - What freebies came your way today?

A lovely day out (Hugely Picture Heavy)

Hello Lovely readers. Thank you for all your lovely comments and a big welcome to my new followers :). I never knew I'd interesting to so many people.
Today we planned to visit the kite festival at Southsea. It's been a lovely sunny day and people were milling around the common in droves. I snapped a few pics of the various kites we spotted.


I thought they looked rather impressive behind the statues on the war memorial.
Then after getting a little bit to chilly in the sea breeze we decided to head over to Southsea Castle for a little bit of a mooch. It love love love this building, it's just so beautiful. If you ever in the area it is well worth a quick visit. Also it's free.


Inside the museum is this rather impressive model of King Henry the 8th. He of the 6 wives fame. DD threw a small tantrum when we wouldn't let her beep his nose. LOL

DD and OH just after the tantrum.

The walls in Southsea Castle can be 3 metres thick in some places, meaning there are some huge windowsills. Can you imagine how many family photo's and knick knacks you could fit on one of these if you lived there?
Riding the cannon with a little help from Daddy. OH was fascinated by all the original and replica cannons in the courtyard. I think DD rode most of them :)

3 A suit of armour and a rum barrel on display in the museum.

Make up bag, Compact mirror, Royal Jelly soap, Next body spritz
Tombola winnings.

Felt duck picture £1, Handmade bookmark which we watched being made and personalised £1.

2 little duck models 50p, Turkey dog toy- 50p tombola win, sample of dog treats, souvenir poster 40p, Hedgehog microwave cuddly £1 toy tombola.

The dog toy and treats will be passed on to our lovely neighbour for her hearing dog. Our souvenir poster was cheaper than a postcard and will be popped on the fridge.

Sunday Sickday

I've come down with a lurgy :( It started yesterday with aches, pains and a horrible headache. So OH sent me to bed with some hot drinks and snuggly blankets. Today I'm feeling a little bit better but my voice is terrible and I'm having to communicate with a rudimentary sign language which OH only understand when he wants to lol.
I'm concentrating on getting some r&r because we are planning a day out to the Southsea Kite Festival tomorrow. Just need to prepare our picnic lunch and lay out our clothes for the morning.
Expect lots and lots of photos to delight and amuse!!!
x x x

Sneak Peeks

More wonderful kindness has come my way (I am so not worthy). Several pieces of fabric in 4 lovely patterns. A blue wood grain type pattern, a cartoony emu in several poses, blue palm trees and white flowers on dusty pink. I've kept the two blue ones out and nabbed a blue velvet and a blue tie dye fabric from my little stash.
I've been a busy bee this afternoon during nap time so watch this space for tomorrows project reveal.
x x x

Royal Doulton Love

Isn't this beautiful? I love love love the pale poppy's and the tiny pretty daisy's. And best of all....


I have 4 dinner plates, 5 tea plates, 5 bread plates, 5 bowls, 1 coffee pot and 1 veggie dish with lid. I will be keeping my eyes open for another dinner plate on Ebay so I can complete my little set.
A friend of mine gave them to me when I told her my plans for hosting Christmas at our flat. As we are a family of three, one of whom being a toddler we only have 3 mismatched dinner plates in the cupboard and lots of plastic bowls for DD. She said she never hosted anymore as her children had grown up and she was now the guest, so if I promised to care for them and use them they were mine mine mine. Such incredible kindness!!!
x x x

P.S This post is part of Down to Earth;s On my mind

First Preserves

2 Jars of Apple Filling
1 Jar of Salted Beans (This is an experiment)
2 Jar of Pear and Ginger Whiskey

Today I've also made 3 plum crumbles and 2 pear and chocolate crumbles but they went into the freezer before I took a pic (d'oh)


The makings of a hedgerow jelly - Elderberrys, plums, blackberrys, apples.