Life's a beach

 It was far to lovely an afternoon to waste yesterday, so after recovering from Car boot sale we decided to head to our second home, Hayling Island.

 Because it is the school holidays the funfair was in full swing and we had a lovely stroll watching all the rides and trying out hand at a few games like this Hook a Duck.

We also enjoyed a lovely fry up in our favourite cafe on the beach. Look how excited DD and Daddy look waiting for their nummy food to arrive. DD was in a lovely mood all day, I think the sunshine really soaked into her skin.

l

We even managed a little walk on the front to look for pirate treasure, alas I think other people must have got there first as all we found were some quite interesting rocks.

 

Please feel free to make whale jokes. OH did........... constantly! I'm officially 36 weeks now so hopefully I won't be to much longer.


 Today plan is making up a hospital bag in case I need to relocate and a DD bag so she can stay with Grandad during the big event without to much hassle. I am also knitting some rather fetching panties for one of DD's dolls using a new pattern I've been given.

x x x

Boot Sale Booty

 2x Charlie and Lola books 50p/ 

Reindeer cuddly toy free from a packing up stallholder/ Peppa pig toy 20p

We tried a new local-ish boot sale this morning and I must say I'm quite impressed. It was bustling without being heaving and there were lots and lots of sellers. We arrived quite late but still found plenty of little things to snap up for pence. A lot of people seemed quite desperate to get rid of their things rather than take them back home

 Peppa Pig book, Charlie and Lola travel scrapbook, Charlie and Lola Colour book, That's not my baby book - All 50p each  Jungle sounds book, Pingu album and Colour and Learn colouring book - All 10p each.

 DD is a complete bookworm I think on average we read about 5-6 books throughout the day, and even after those you can often find her sat somewhere reading to herself or her toys. I don't think she could ever have enough books and because we have taught her to take care of them the majority of these will be sold on later. She is only two so sometimes accidents happen but if I have only paid £1 or less for a book it isn't quite so bad.

 Peppa pig PJ's - 50p  Peppa pig nightdress - 50p (not pictured as a certain young lady is sat on it)

 We finished walking around the boot sale at about 12.30 and seeing as the day was turning out so beautifully we decided to go home via Hayling Island. I will blog about what we got up to tomorrow once I have sorted through the photos we took and picked out my favourites.

 I'm planning to have a nice peaceful afternoon napping in front of the Ollys and eating pick and mix sweets. It's a hard life!

x x  x

Nice surprises

  Today has been a day of lovely surprises. First my mum gave me a ball of the most gorgeous fancy wool. I've never seen anything like it before, the picture doesn't do it any justice at all and I'm stumped for something to do with it so I will pop it in my stash for now.

                

  A my big surprise was from my OH. A few months ago we saw an old painted chest in one of those shabby chic type shops and I was really taken with it. The price tag was astronomical as you can probably guess and I didn't think anymore about it. OH however being a clever chappy spotted this one for a mere £5 in a local charity shop about a fortnight ago and snapped it up.

After some major sanding down and a lick of paint, he has made the girls the best jungle theme toy box I have ever seen!!! The whole project has just him less than £10 and DD is utterly thrilled with her new toy box.

 He even made some jungle animal stencils to add a little more jazz.
 I am so lucky to have such a clever, thrifty and arty husband!

The Great British Blog hop- sneak peek

 I have been invited by the lovely Sunshine Girl from Sunshine Reflections to take part in the Great British Blog Hop on the 1st of August. I'm the second on the list for day one and I'm super proud to be involved.

 

My entry is a joint effort between DD and me. Here's a sneak peek to wet your appetite!!!

x x x

Fishy fish fish

 On Tuesday DD was whisked away to a local aquarium by my parents. OH and I had a blissful sunny afternoon catching up with odd jobs and relaxing. When I opened my emails this morning my dad had sent me the photo's he took.

The detail in these photos is incredible! I wish I had even half of his skill when it came taking pictures. OH takes 99% of them for my blog. I sulk and blame my camera like a grown up, but I've been dropping hints to everyone that I would like something camera-ish for my birthday this year in the hope that something more modern might help.

 I I love the little turtle catching a lift on the back of the other turtle. They look like a happy little family enjoying the sunshine.

I I don't have a clue what has caught DD's interest in this photo but she looks really taken with something  in this shot.

  Looking a little bit wary of the big fish in this tank. Perhaps she doesn't trust the glass or perhaps they look are moving a little bit to fast.

I I love this over the shoulder shot.

And finally proof that this was a good day out for DD. Nothing says successful day out like a snoring toddler on the way home.

 In other news OH has told me to expect a surprise tonight, a secret project he has been working on during quiet moments in the shop. I'm all excited as to what it could be.
x x x

I love you Froogs!

  I'm all happy and smiley today. The wonderful Froogs from Frugal Queen has sent me the most wonderful quilt for the bump!!! The front is chock full of sunny yellows and clear sky blues. One of the fabrics has the tiniest little mice on it, so so sweet. DD has decided it isn't a cot quilt but a rolling quilt (as you can see above). I think I will have to hide it away safely for a few weeks before it's snaffled.

The back of the quilt it a pair of summery pillowcases opened out and sewn together. Doesn't it make for a fun backing? This way I can flip it over depending on which view I fancy at the time, or even which matches DD2's outfit the best lol.
 Froogs I am completely in love!!!

x x x

DD's busy weekend

 She may only be two but DD has quite to social life.  On Saturday we were visited by Nanny S, 2 aunts and a future uncle in law. We had a wander around the town and a nice lunch in the local Pizza Hut. I completely forgot about taking any photos until we all returned to the shop, so clever OH snapped this one quick as they were about to run out the door for my blog. Can you see how strong the genes are in this family? They all look the same, at family events it always amuses me because you can see exactly who has married in at a glance lol.

On Sunday my brothers housemate was hosting a birthday party for his God-daughter, and very kindly invited DD along. It was a gorgeous day and it was so lovely to let DD wild in a nice garden full of toys for the afternoon.

DD fell deeply in love with the paddling pools, one filled with plastic balls and one with water.
 Once she was settled and happily playing with all the other kiddies, OH sneaked me off to a local Harvester for a nice quiet meal. It was a really nice relaxing break as we haven't been out for a meal in quite a while.

Once we got back we found DD entertaining the masses by putting on little dance routines in the conservatory.

She had such a great time, and sleep like a dream last night after all her excitement and birthday cake. Our only issue now is that she keeps asking for more "splash water" (paddling pool) which just isn't going to happen in our flat. So this afternoon we are planning to try out the local swimming pool to see how she gets on.

What a busy life this DD leads eh?  And on Tuesday she's off out again as Grandad has been rather clever and won some free tickets to a local aquarium. I just know shes going to love it.

x  x x

Baby Essentials???

 So everyone knows that when babys come along they cost a fair few pennys. Baby equipment isn't cheap, especially if you want everything brand new and shiny. I have been receiving various catalogues and info packs from companies for weeks and they never cease to make me giggle. Here's one I received today and my thoughts on it.

New Baby Bathing Essentials

• Infant Bathtub  (Never used one, when tiny they were washed in the bath with me or just top and tailed using a bowl of warm water)
• Soft Hooded Towels
• Grooming Kit  (Baby hairbrush is the only thing I ever used in the ones I received)
• Slip resistant bath tub mats (Is my regular bath mat not special enough? It has dolphins on it!!)
• Bathing Toys  (Empty bottles, a sponge, and a plastic jug - hours of fun and pretty much free)
• Wash Cloths (I do agree baby skin needs a sponge rather than a scrubby thing but certainly not a special one)
• Cotton Wool Balls and Cotton Buds
• Shampoo, Oil and Lotions  (I use Johnsons baby stuff or own brand baby stuff on myself usually so we all just share)

New Baby Bedding Essentials

• Crib Bedding  
• Crib Fitted Sheets
• Crib pad (No idea what this is)
• Crib Blankets
• Bassinett Sheets (I used crib blankets for both, the magical bit is folding them in half so they fit!)
• Lightweight and Heavy Blankets
• Mattress Pads (Again no idea)
• Waterproof Liner (I had a mattress protector and changed the sheets every other day/when needed)
• Changing Mat  (Tea towels did better for me, after a day worth of use you can pop them in the wash and not need to worry about germs lingering)
• Wallpaper (Cause your newborn will not develop correctly if you don't redecorate!!!)
• Cot quilt (Saw this and thought of FROOGS!!!!!)
• Pillow (Never ever ever would I give my newborn a pillow! Surely this would be dangerous?)
• Curtains  (See wallpaper)
• Lamp and lampshade (I have a hall light for soft lighting and a main light for bright lighting, no need)
• Changing Table Cover (For dinner partys perhaps?)
• Changing Table Pad  (Huh?)
• Accessories (I brought some cute wall stickers in poundland)

New Baby Clothing Essentials

• Onesies or Bodysuits
• Sleepers or Nightgowns  (Is this not the same as above? DD always slept in onesies, in the day she wore people clothes
• Socks and Booties (Yet to find a bootee that stays on)
• Light cap for night (as above)
• Baby Hat, (Maybe if going outside but not indoors)
• T-shirts (pullover and side-nap) 
• Mittens  (Won't stay on, just use socks)
• Cotton shirts
• Pants (pull on, waterproof) (Pointless, unless baby clothes are in very short supply)
• Receiving or Swaddle Blankets (Your cot blankets won't do two jobs?)
• Crib blanket or quilt
• Sweater / jacket
• Winter coat
• Shoes (Pointless until they show signs of standing in my opinion)
• Sleeveless vests / undershirts
• Rompers (footed and not)

New Baby Nappies Essentials

Disposable nappies

• Newborn nappies
• A supply of cloth nappies is also recommended

Baby ointment / cream / powder (against rashes)

• Baby wipes (disposable or washable)
• Nappy Bag (when travelling)

New Baby Feeding Essentials

Bottles

• Bottles (washable or disposable)
• Nipples (fast and slow flow)
• Bibs, you'll need loads! (Never bothered, only need the occasional muslin for a mop up here and there. DD was never a dribbly baby even though she was an early teether)
• Steriliser (Microwave, Electric, Boiling...)
• Bottle Brush
• Bottle Warmer (Never warmed my bottles, DD learnt quick to accept room temperature/slightly chilled bottles, which means far less faff when out and about)
• Bottle Drying Rack  (I have a regular plate rack and guess what! It worked fine with bottles!)
• Teethers 
• Bottle Caps
• Bottle Liner (?)

Solid Feeds

• Feeding Fork and Spoon   (used teaspoons, plastic once DD had teeth)
• Feeding Bowl  (Regular bowl)
• Food Blender and grinder  (Use the back of a fork or a potato masher)
• Plastic sip cup (DD went straight from bottle to straws/normal cups, again so much less fuss when out and about)

Baby Feeding Supplies

• Highchair
• Baby wipes (disposable or washable)
• Plastic spills mats (near the highchair)   (Don't feed them on carpet and your be fine without these)

New Baby Furniture Essentials

• Chest  (DD had a small chest of drawers that held everything)
• Dresser  (nope)
• Crib and Pad  (Crib from freecycle that we washed down )
• Crib mattress and waterproof pads (Mattress was possibly the only thing we brought new)
• Changing Table and Pad (If you change you baby on the floor it will never roll off it and break a limb, I used my lap when DD was newborn until I could bend again after my c-section)
• Bassinet or Cradle (We were gifted one so we used it, but otherwise we wouldn't have bothered)
• Highchair
• Toy chest (Cardboard box)
• Rocking chair (Nope)

New Baby Health and Safety Essentials

• Thermometer for the nursery  (Used common sense)
• Ear Thermometer
• Nasal Aspirator (?)
• Baby Monitor (We had ears, baby sleeps in room with us until they are past nightfeeds)
• Safety Gate 
• Night Light  (Never had one and thanks to lack of it we now have a baby who isn't afraid of the dark)
• Healthcare Books(Google and emergency mum phonecalls lol)
• Cupboard Safety Locks  (Why do I need these and a safety gate? Anything remotely dangerous we keep in the kitchen behind the safety gate)
• Toilet Locks  (These exist? Seriously?)
• Appliance Locks  (I constantly worry about my new born opening the fridge!!!)
• Pacifiers  (DD was a thumbsucker before she was even born, and this one appears to be following suit after a recent scan)
• Outlet Plugs (Interestingly these things actually make sockets more dangerous, google it if you dare!!!!)
• Door stops (Folded paper works to!)
• First-aid supplies
• Fever Reducer
• Medicine spoon (Used a dropper and still do, they don't to go walkies like spoons)
• Medicine dropper
• Disinfecting hand soap (Wouldn't you normally have this?)
• Teething gel 
• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors 

New Baby Toys, Books and Music Essentials

Toys Essentials

• Bath toys (Already answered)
• Stroller toys  (Small regular toy)
• Crib toys (Cribs are for sleeping so I wouldn't add anything stimulating in here)
• Soft toys 
• Development and learning toys
• Rattles
• Playgym / Playmat  (Blanket/towel/quilt on the floor)
• Doorway jumper (Don't see the point in these)
• Swing (Again no point)
• Bouncer  (Used the travel system car seat)

Music Essentials

• Lullaby music  (YouTube or Spotify or a regular radio)
• Bedtime music ~(ditto)
• Classical music  (ditto)
• Educational music (ditto)
• CD/tape player (Use what you have already)

Well that's a lot of junk wiped off that list and a lot of space saved in my flat lol. 

x x x x

A long days rest.

 Can you see DD2's face?

  Hello lovely readers (and a wave to my new followers!).
 Things are slow and ploddy here at the Frugal Handmade Home. With just 40 days left into my due date I'm getting bigger, slower and definitely sleepier.
 OH took one look at me this morning and sent me back to bed. Then he took DD with him to work and left me to sleep and sleep and sleep. I didn't wake up till almost 4pm!!! And I hadn't had a bad nights sleep before it either.
 I have noticed however that I've changed shape while I was asleep and my bump is definitely dropping lower and I can breath a lot more freely. I also am having strong urges to clean, polish and bleach everything in sight. This afternoon I have scrubbed the en suite and our bedroom to within an inch of its life while watching Iplayer. Seeing as DD arrived dead on 38 weeks I'm wondering if this is a sign Baby 2 is preparing to come a little earlier.
 I also have a huge huge huge craving for apple juice, apple pies, apple scented things and just apples in general. I wonder if they are particularly high in some vitimin or mineral I'm running low on?

 x x x

Thought you'd all like to know.

 As promised, here is the big news :)

Bargain pizza.

 Clever old OH picked up these 5 tasty looking pizzas when he popped to Mr A for me yesterday evening. The photo doesn't do justice to just how huge they are but one of these bad boys can feed the three of us for a dinner one evening and lunch the following day. At less than £2 each they were well worth picking up and popping in the freezer for quick and easy meals once bump arrives.

 A random post from me this morning as I have busy day of baby scans and midwife appointments. Hopefully today we will find out what flavour we are having and if we have the final go ahead for a home birth. I will inform you all ASAP!

 xx x

Summer of Colour - Week 6 - The Finale

Oh my. Six weeks has certainly past my by in a whirl, but I will always have my six little ice cream cones to remind me of them! The final cone this week was Watermelon Ice, and I had so much fun creating this final ice. He has pips galore and juicy watermelon pink all over. Perhaps last weeks cone was so sad because it knew it would end up next door to him!

 And here are all six of my creations together. I am so pleased with the way they have turned out though I am still a little unhappy with Mr. Wild Sherbet, when I see them all together like this I love the way they all show little personality's and quirks.
 I can also finally reveal that my project was stitched onto 2 plain pillowcases. Many people guessed they were towels or a tablecloth. My next big project is to hunt down a plain duvet cover and stitch another addition to the collection on a much much larger scale and create a bespoke bed set.

 I have really enjoyed visiting everyone during these last 6 weeks and I know I have ended up following several of you and I have seen my follows increase to. I hope you will all continue to pop and see me from time to time and let me know what you've been up to.

x x x

What we have been up up.

  Hasn't it been dire lately? All this horrible weather is making me want to sleep and sleep, but it's driving poor DD potty!!! Being stuck indoors for days on end with a bored toddler is not fun I can tell you! Lucky for me she is rather easily amused but I am running out of ideas fast.
 The picture above is one of two lengths of bunting I made from an old Ladybird book of the seaside. It's made my hallway a little more seasidey and happy.

 I have also made another two notebooks to add to the one I featured recently. I love how these are turning out and once my order of tape has arrived I'm hoping to make a whole pile of them.

  DD and I are attempting our first "big" project. We are converting the cardboard box from Froogs giveaway into a playhouse for DD's toy animals. So far we have coloured in the outer walls, cut a door and a few windows and today we glued on lots of paper squares to make the roof pretty. This was a fab way of using up all the little coloured scraps of paper I've kept from other projects. DD really enjoyed sticking them on and as always we included a little bit of education by talking about the different colours we were sticking on.

 Our next job is to decorate the walls with some sort of brick patten. Possibly some paint and sponges in my future as I'd like to try lots of different creative things. Any ideas would be gratefully received.

x x x

Summer of Colour- Week 5

Seriously it's week 5 already? How on earth did that happen!

This weeks flavour prompt was Wild Sherbet and I am pleased to say I have completed my next Ice cream in time. I am, however, not happy with him at all. I can't put my finger on it but he just isn't right and I don't know why.
 I found myself making easy excuses to not to work on him this week which is always a bad sign isn't it? And on top of everything else I forgot to ask my lovely hubby to help me with the photo's so this week there is another bad photo to contend with.

 The little back squiggle is my DD "helping" to colour in the ice cream, the pen says it's washable so please cross your fingers for me that it is!!!
 Can't wait to see what our last theme is! And of course visit everyone again!!!!

Crafty times in the Frugal house

 It's been an age since I did anything crafty other than sewing my ice cream cones and knitting little hats. So yesterday when I came across this blog tutorial I thought why not!!!
 So I took one simple boring Wilko's notebook (75p for 3), added some pages from yesterdays atlas (free) and a roll of double sided sticky tape (been around for donkeys but possible about £1?)

 Almost an hour and the latest episode of 24 hours in A&E on 4OD, and voila!
 A nautical look notebook that would make any sailor proud! I'm having a big coastal decoration vibe on at the moment so this was a lovely tie in project.

 Here are the before and after photos. Which do you prefer?
I'm off for a long lazy bath using one of my luxury rose scented bathbombs from Devon, and a read of 50 shades of Grey to see what all this fuss is about.
x xx

Wednesday's wonders

 I had a pretty uneventful meeting with my consultant, he has decided to not back me for a home birth but wants me in a local birthing unit instead. I'm still planning to attempted a home birth even after his lovely tales of my uterus splitting and my baby suffering from my foolishness. But at least it's over and done with now.
 On our way back from the appointment OH detoured us skillfully into our local Waitrose where it happened to be reduction time. We picked up 2 treacle tarts for 40p, a pack of Pain au Chocolat for 45p and a lovely looking fruit loaf for 39p. So tomorrow I can look forward to a yummy breakfast and some tasty elevenses and afternoon snacks. This baby is finally giving me an appetite and I find myself constantly grazing.

  An earlier visit in the day to the local free book shop found me these beauty's. An old Readers Digest Atlas perfect for some upcoming crafty projects. A vintage book called " The pebbles on the beach by Clarence Ellis", it is all about different types of stones you can find on the seafront and how to find, collect and organise them. It's quite nerdy but fascinating. An old Penguin book about the seashore, it's full of wonderful full page illustrations that are just begging to be used creatively, if I can find the will power to cut it up!!!

 And the forth books is called Super ABC Book. It looks pretty vintage to me and my untrained eye, and is full of wonderful illustrations like the ones in the photo above.

 It has cute little comic strip style storys and counting rhymes that are almost to cute!

I'm really tempted to copy out some of the illustrations, like this piggy, and use them as embroidery patterns on pillows and bedsheets for DD and bumps room.

 My plans this evening are to eat some delicious treacle tart and try some craft ideas out using my new atlas.
 x x x

Summer of Colour Week 4

 A little later than usual and an awful awful photo but here is my next ice cream entry. I have been stitching furiously to get her finished and start the next one. Happy to say that I am now all caught up and back on track after my seaside holiday last week.
 This week I kept thing simple using two strands of yellow and two strands of pink together for the outline, and 2 strands for each of the stars in each section. I think she has come out rather well and knew from almost the first stitch she needed a cheeky tongue sticking out to complete her happy face.
  Can't wait to visit everyone again and see what you've all been up to.
x x x

Warning; Pregnant lady whinges.

 I'm not really a fan of posts that whine about things but I am going to be a complete hypocrit today and post this one lol. I am getting really fed up with being pregnant!!! I have officially 56 days left untill my due date and to be honest its 56 days to long today.
 Mentally I feel very fustrated at the amount of things I want to do but can't. I'm longing for long walks on the seafront but loose my breath just getting to the fridge. I desperately want to wear my favourite tops and trousers but am forced to wear mostly OH's clothes and trousers the size of circus tents. When I have a bath, OH likes to knock on the door and either warn me that chinese whalers are coming or that Greenpeace is on the phone asking if I've been beached.
 Now I'm getting closer to the end I'm also getting fed up with all the fuss and attention from medical types. I hate being fussed over at the best of times. I just want to be left to get on with things to be honest. Bump is squirming and having hiccups constantly, all my scans have been fine with no problems and the midwife has told me to "brace yourself cause it's a good size baby". So why must I continue to be prodded and measured and have to wee into cups?

I

 I have to see my consultant on wednesday and I am not looking forward to it. Last time I saw (while pregnant with DD) he told me I was stupid for refusing blood tests and that he couldn't do anything without test results and told me to leave. This time I refused my first 3 appointments made on my behalf by a midwife who is sending me for everything possible in the vague hope I will attend at least something. Ironically it would seem I can't get the go ahead for a home birth unless I have his consent. So if I don't get his consent and a midwife turns up halfway through the birth at my home I assume she will have a magic button that pauses everything while your whisked away to a hospital because some stranger who doesn't know me (or seem to like me) didn't say I could. Daft.
 x x x

P.S Forgive the hormonal whine, I'm sure I will fill better in the morning or failing that September when all this is over with and I can concentrate on the best bit of having a baby.