Post Comment Love & Blogger Showcase 22 - 24 June

June 22, 2018

Hello there and welcome to this week's #PoCoLo - it's been a bit of a week here and more so than usual, so this will only be a short post - please forgive me.

If you're new here this week it's great to see you *waves* and if you were here last week thank you for your continued support. It means a lot to both Morgan and I.

My photo this week is from my visit to Gardeners' World Live (as is the post I've linked) on Sunday - they're so vibrant and pretty they needed to be kept behind the rope barrier for their own safety...

Flowers kept behind the ropes at Gardeners' World Live

Blogger Showcase: Janita from Tyler Belle

1. Who are you?

My name is Janita. I’m a wife and a momma to a baby boy and baby girl. I’m 21, and live in a small town of roughly 200 people in Manitoba, Canada. I’m a country girl, a Supernatural and Marvel fan and I cherish family dearly! I’m a PCOS and anxiety warrior learning to appreciate the small things in life.

2. How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I first came across blogs when I was 17 for a school project. I was instantly hooked and couldn’t stop reading. A few years later, after marrying my husband and having 2 kids I realized I had a lot to say and needed to share it with the world. Tyler Belle was created in that moment.

3. Why did you start blogging?

A few reasons, I wanted to share my voice and thoughts with the world! Also as a young mom, I didn’t want to be known as “only” a mom. I wanted to connect with other people and create a life for my family.

4. What do you find most challenging?

The most challenging part of blogging is definitely pushing past the hard times. Low views, writers block, negative feedback etc. As a new blogger, it can be discouraging but we have to remember to keep moving forward because our voice matters. A couple other challenges were setting up the “tech” side of a blog. I’m not a huge technology person by any means!

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

Anything and everything Parenting. Including finances, diy crafts, pregnancy, postpartum and more. I want to help other momma’s and fellow bloggers with whatever obstacle they may be facing!

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

Both! One day, I would love for my blog to become my full time income and allow me to be able to stay home with my family. But, as of right now, it’s a hobby. And I don’t want to ruin that by thinking about money too much.

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

Definitely the amazing group of supportive people I’ve come across. There are so many wonderful bloggers out there who are so helpful and encouraging. I’ve created amazing friendships with people I haven’t even met in person. I never thought I could feel so connected with someone over social media or through my blog!

8. Have you ever attended a blogging conference?

No I haven’t, however, it is definitely something I would love to do in the future!

9. What are your 3 best posts?

10. Describe yourself in 3 words!

Busy! Anxious! Motivated!

As a mom of 2 under 15 months I’m busy lol. I’ve suffered from anxiety my whole life. I’m motivated to change my life and provide the best for my family!

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

I personally don’t drink a lot of tea or coffee, but I’m definitely a cake person! If I had to choose, I would probably prefer coffee over tea!

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

My idea of a perfect night out would be no children, a nice fancy dinner and going to watch a great movie with my husband. Maybe a nice walk after! As long as I’m with my husband it’s a perfect night.

13. Perfect night in?

I love our nights in when we can just lock the door, relax in our pjs on the couch. Watch our favourite Disney movie with our little boy and just cuddle. Family is so important to me.

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

My leadership or my work ethic. I’ve always known how to take charge in a respectful way and I will not stop until my work is perfect. I believe how hard I work, resembles how much I’m worth. We are all worth a lot!

Thanks Janita for sharing more about you and your blog. You can connect with Janita on her social channels here: Instagram - Pinterest - Twitter

An InLinkz Link-up

Highlights from a day at Gardeners' World Live

June 19, 2018

I can't believe it's Tuesday evening already and I'm only just sitting down to write my highlights from Gardeners' World Live which we popped up to Birmingham for on Sunday. It was a long day, leaving home before 7.30am and not getting back until 9.30pm but we had a great day, were lucky with our train connections and saw lots. The day ended with a Chinese takeaway and some photo editing, with my highlights chosen that evening.

Would I go again? Yes. So if you've thought about visiting but haven't been sure I'd recommend it. For me, shows like this are all about the gardens and the displays. I tend to avoid buying too much, although we did leave with some cheese and some Whiskey and Toffee Vodka from the adjoining Good Food Show. There were lots of plants to purchase on those crates on wheel trolley things tackled me at least a few times while I wasn't expecting it. I was less keen on transporting plants home by train, but perhaps if I lived closer or if we'd driven then it might have been an option.

I've driven to the NEC before, albeit from Norfolk which isn't as straightforward as you think it might be, but even so after our train journey this weekend, it's safe to say I'm a train convert. The downside though is trying to predict when you're ready to come home in advance, and I think I was optimistic with that, which resulted in the longer than usual day. Although if the weather had been nicer I'm sure we wouldn't have noticed it quite so much, and would more likely have spent time making use of the plentiful outdoor seating areas.

So onto my highlights

One of the first show gardens we saw was this "Breath of Fresh Air" garden, and it certainly was. The helenium-type yellow flowers against the leaves of the hosta made for an unusual combination and well, as you know, I'm rather partial to a pop of yellow.

The Made in Birmingham garden was one that I'd seen on Gardeners' World before our visit and I was looking forward to seeing it. I love veg growing in rows nice and orderly like this and in my mind's eye my allotment would look like this, without weeds of course, just like this one. I think MOH was more interested in the train carriage, but declined the opportunity to see the garden from the other side.

You'll definitely be seeing more of this garden on the blog, and you never know one day I may be able to grow veg as neatly as this. It's a long shot, but definitely something to aim for!

Another feature of the show was the Beautiful Borders area, and there were many of these small plots of loveliness which I insisted we walk around every side of every single border. I've chosen a few photos from this part of the show as not only were they great to look at and full of inspiration, but they also used plants that you or I would have in our gardens and looked, dare I say it, attainable?

The first one represented one of my favourite books - The Chronicles of Narnia - and was complete with a wardrobe. I'm teasing you though as I'm showing an arty-farty pic, but it's so gorgeous I had to include it in a highlights post.

BEAUTIFUL BORDERS: THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA

The Marie Curie With Love pulled at all sorts of heart strings with its message pebbles around the pool, and while it was touching to read these messages, and I'm sure leave them, the bridge did make me smile for the designer's attention to detail.

BEAUTIFUL BORDERS: MARIE CURIE WITH LOVE

The Pyramid Garden was a jumble of beauty (with apologies to the designer if they're offended by my description), but to me it was the dense planting and plants that most of us recognise that was central to its appeal.

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL BORDER: THE PYRAMID GARDEN

After we'd systematically admired each of the Beautiful Borders my eyes were taken by a row of wheelbarrows, which turned out to be a rather long row of wheelbarrows planted up by local schools. Each wheelbarrow was a "meal in a barrow" and it was great to see how the schools had tackled this, and the meals they chose. The stone bugs and painted wooden spoon plant labels of this one were the deciding factor on which of the many photos to include, but you may have seen my Instagram on Sunday where I shared a chicken in a wheelbarrow...

A MEAL IN A WHEELBARROW, JUST ONE OF THE COMPETITION ENTRIES

I've chosen the next few photos for their colour and form, and you'll not be surprised to see a succulent or two along the way I'm sure. But first up is this vivid reddy-pink phormium, which was also in a glossy red pot. If you want colour, this certainly delivered.

COLOUR AND COLOURFUL POTS IN THE WYEVALE GARDEN CENTRE SOLUTIONS GARDEN

In the flower marquee I quickly sniffed out the cacti and agaves and this one caught my eye.

We also stopped a while and admired the air plants, they really are quite peculiar and yet fascinating at the same time. I've a feeling there'll be more about these on the blog too, but I'd be interested to know what you think of them? I was almost tempted to buy one of these but found it hard to choose just one.

It wasn't long though before I stumbled across some more succulents, these ones having a picnic. Quite random, but pretty nonetheless.

The Floral Marquee was a mix of exhibits and plant sales and a hive of activity. There was a cafe in the centre but it seemed pretty low on stock compared to the many food vans around the show so we stuck to searching out the more unusual plants, like these carnivorous ones. Don't get too excited though as they're unlikely to solve any fly problem you might have as they are only likely to eat around six a year.

The markings are spectacular though, and it's easy to see why a fly might be tempted in.

My last highlight photo is one of a stand offering wedding floral arrangements and the fountain of champagne glasses filled with flowers looked spectacular. Probably a little too delicate for my clumsy self (and apart from the fact that I'm not in the market for wedding flowers) but an unusual, and pretty take on wedding flowers.

So, now you can see why - or part of why - it was such a good day. I'll be sharing more photos from my visit, interspersed with all the other photos I've already promised to share.

Taking care of our teak garden furniture

June 16, 2018

It's got to the time of year when we almost expect the weather to be good hasn't it? And by good, I mean warm enough to sit in the garden without adding an English summer 'layer' (aka a cardy) and generally over the past few weeks, I think we've done ok.

As ever some days have been better than others, but it's also clear that our garden furniture has also seen better days. Pondering this I realised it's been a while since I spent an afternoon sprucing it up. But, I think it's getting to the time to give it some more attention, don't you?

Our garden table complete with house plants enjoying the weather

Teak garden furniture is a classic, but yet on-trend choice for garden furniture, we've had this set since 2008 and apart from that one scrub have done very little with it. We should do more, I'm sure but the silvering has a certain appeal, and if I'm honest you forget how good it looks when it's cleaned and spruced up.

This year for the first time that I can remember I've moved our houseplants out into the garden, and they seem to be really enjoying it. But as you can see, they'd look better if the table had some care. But it's relatively easy to give teak outdoor furniture some TLC and improve its looks and longevity, and it's a task this time I'll be delegating to MOH (he doesn't know yet!)

I read somewhere that it's going to be a good year for strawberries this year, and so far that prediction has been proven right. We're currently in strawberry overload from the plot and the plants we have in our garden are also producing fruits, which they don't always do. I love a strawberry or two, so I'm very much in the "long may it continue" camp - what about you?

MOH though is getting to the "what strawberries and cream again" point so let me know your best ways of using a glut of strawberries.

We're off to Gardeners' World Live tomorrow and I'm fully expecting to be "assaulted" by lots of loveliness, for the garden and for my tummy, as there's also entry to BBC Good Food Live too. It's my first time at the show, so it'll be interesting to compare it to both the house and garden shows I've been to this year.

But I bet I'll see plenty of garden furniture, and I bet plenty of it will be teak too.

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