Post Comment Love 27-29 April

Hello there and welcome to another Friday and another PoCoLo - it's great to see you, whether you're new here *waves* or are a regular PoCoLo-er - either way, Morgan and I are pleased you're here.

I am going to revert to type and talk about the weather this week.  Goodness hasn't it been peculiar.  There's been the typical April showers - I've not managed to get caught in one yet, but I have discovered that my brolly is well and truly broken.  Thankfully it's only one of a few, and one I picked up somewhere several years ago, so that's been quite unceremoniously dumped in the bin.  

I'm hoping that's symbolic and the temperatures will be on the up again. I've seen the forecasts and I'm not convinced my optimism is well placed, but let's hope we don't have another few months to wait until we see the sun again!

On the plus side, the cherry blossom in Greenwich Park is looking glorious.  There's trees with branches laden of posy-like arrangements, and it's a wonder that they can stand upright. They are pretty though, aren't they?

Blogger Showcase: Gemma from Waist Trainer

1. Who are you?

I'm Gemma, a mum of two children (boy and a girl) from the South Coast of England and I blog as Mummy's Waisted on www.waisttrainer.uk

2. How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I'd read quite a few mummy/parenting blogs whilst on maternity leave with my two children, and when I joined Twitter, the whole blogging world opened up to me!

3. Why did you start blogging?

Originally I started writing content for the waist training site, and discovered that I really enjoyed it and wanted to expand the range of topics I was blogging about.

4. What do you find most challenging?

Just talking about one thing in a post! I often get distracted or go off down a different path than I'd originally intended.

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

Trying out new things with my children, whether it's getting crafty or testing out a new recipe with them - my son loves baking.

6. Are you blogging for fun or do you have goals?

It's early days so I don't have long term goals yet, I would like to make enough money from blogging to not have to go back to accountancy!

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

It gives me an outlet for all the ideas running around my head - especially during night time wake ups with my daughter!

8. Have you ever attended a blogging conference?

Not yet.

9. What are your three best posts?

That's me in the corner, losing my identity; Little Chompers (testing out celebrity recipes for ease of cooking and whether the kids like them), and a guest post I wrote about making dinosaurs from junk boxes!

10. Describe yourself in three words

Organised, cuddly, surprising.

11. Are you a tea and biscuits or coffee and cake person?

Definitely coffee and cake, I need caffeine!

12. What's your idea of a perfect night out?

I'm getting a bit old for late nights out at gigs, so probably going to see a comedian with my husband, with a nice meal beforehand.

13. Your perfect night in?

Watching a crime thriller with a takeaway curry.

14. What would your OH/kids say is your best quality?

I always put my family first, making sure they are happy - even if it means giving up the last slice of cake!

Thanks Gemma, it's great to find new blogs to read and wow, giving up cake - that's quite something!  

If you'd like to be featured as a future Blogger Showcase, please get in touch with either Morgan or I and we can sort out a date.

An InLinkz Link-up

Garden inspiration mood boards

April sure is a funny month isn't it?  There's been highs and lows of temperatures and let's hope they're back on the rise again soon.  But a glimpse of sun, or rather a lot unusually as was the case, and it doesn't take much to convince us that it's here to stay, and we're going to have the hottest summer ever (again).  

Only for our hopes to be dashed when overnight the temperatures plummet to single figures. But that's the 'joy' of the English weather, and it doesn't stop us enjoying our gardens does it?  With the early glimpse of sun, I don't expect I'm the only one making plans to enjoy my garden. There's quite a bit of work to do before I can pull the sun loungers out though, but for now, let's get some garden inspiration from these mood boards which use items from Wayfair's Outdoor range

Knowing me and colour, you'll not be surprised to see my first three boards contain bright colours, but even I don't do full on colour all of the time, so I've also included a couple of calmer boards too, and all of the boards contain items I love and think you will too.

brights + stripes: Virrat chair | Stockholm lantern | Crystal plastic drinking glass | Monza plant pot (set of 3)

That pink chair!  I'm a fan of this style of chair and have seen it increasingly this year - my fear though is that it'll be much harder to store than the traditional deck chair shown below.  I've a suspicion that it won't be too long before I've found a way around my dilemma - did I mention that I've scheduled in a clear out of the shed for next weekend?

modern traditions: Cold Summer folding deck chair | Askö Bar Serving Cart | Giant Dominoes

A drinks trolley is also on my wish list. I know I said I wasn't sure if I was keen or not, but I've talked myself round and MOH is keen too.  And, that means when he makes drinks, he'll be out of my way as he'll have his own drinks making space.  I know that in reality, he'll use this space and the space he previously used, but the fine will be to make me more cocktails, so I think that's a win!

For me, summer isn't summer without a barbecue, a picnic or an ice lolly or too.  Adding these all together really do bring fab times, which of course is a classic whichever way you look at it.

fab times: Salida charcoal barbecue | Sweet Summer days ice lolly plastic drinking glass | Outline insulated picnic tote bag

I told you that the first three boards were colourful, but I hope you'll agree full of summer fun.  There's times - and gardens - that call for something altogether calmer, and dare I say it, more elegant. The metal tree seat is an absolute classic, but sadly wouldn't work in my garden, we'd be sitting with at least one foot in the flowerbeds.  

english garden: Varda metal semi-circular tree seat | Artificial Daisy /Hydrangea wreath | Snuffle vintage planter box

I'm much more likely to have zinc planters, in fact I'm always on the look out for zinc planters and I'm convinced I'll find some in the junk shops of Norfolk. I keep looking, and with no joy yet, so maybe I'll given in soon and treat myself.

My final board is a nod to how our gardens can calm us, how they can be places to sit and watch the world go by. Whether that's watching the wildlife go about its business, watching the temperatures (hopefully) soar, or to relax watching the dancing flicker of a flame late into the evening.

calming elements: Dragon fly garden wall art | Garden wall thermometer | Insect, butterfly, bee cottage, hanging bird house | Burn stainless steel propane gas fire pit

So there you have five different mood boards providing garden inspiration, which inspires you?

* This is a collaborative post, but all views are my own.

A family room, with a lot going on

I'm in two minds about this room set at this year's Ideal Home Show. I like stuff and things around me so it should be my thing, but I'm not sure if it is, and I'm not really sure why.  There's nothing in here that really offends me, but other than it having a real lived in feel, there's not much in here that really grabs me either.  

Perhaps it's fallen into that betwixt and between, and is neither one or the other - I'd be interested to know what you think after you've seen the photos. So, onto the room set.

Perhaps it's because too much of it is neutral in my opinion. But I do know that the standout item is the wall hung bureau or writing station - it reminds me of the bureau we had when growing up. The idea of closing the flap (writing table) and shutting away the office for the evening is almost completely alien to us now, now that we've developed the 'always on' mentality.  Somehow just the flap of that piece of furniture harks back to a time less frantic, peculiar hey?

It does make good use of the wall space though, there's the corner fireplace above and the wall mounted drawers below.  There's plenty of shelf space too.

As I've said in previous Ideal Home posts from this year, there was often a brightly coloured armchair bringing a pop of colour, and this room set was no different.  This time orange. 

And there was another pompom trimmed cushion.  I tell you, they're everywhere.

So what do you think, are you smitten or a bit take it or leave it, like me?