Post Comment Love and Blogger Showcase 27-29 July

Hello there and welcome to another #PoCoLo and it's looking like it's going to be a hot one - if you were here last week it was great to see you, and if you're new here this week you're very welcome.  Once again I'm joined by Nikki from Something Strange, so as well as checking out our Blogger Showcase, please do pop over and say hello to @MrsTubbs.

Who'd have thought us Brits would be looking forward to some rain so much? 

I am officially melting and Thursday evening struggled to keep cool at all.  I don't want to moan about the weather but I am looking forward to some cooler temperatures, and have this feeling that if it does rain then quite a few of us will be giving a little, or perhaps a bit bigger cheer.

Although I appear to have developed a new routine on my walking commute home, which is a stop at our local M&S for a cool down in the chiller section, and I don't think I'm the only one.  I've bumped into the same people wandering around slowly to cool down, phffing as we went.

In more exciting news a wedding invitation arrived this week, and for a wedding at The Grosvenor no less, so some shopping is going to be required.  Well, it'd be rude not to hey?

This week's photo sums up the week for me, and you might be surprised to know that it's one from my recent visit to RHS Hyde Hall in Essex and not somewhere more exotic.

Blogger Showcase: Andreia from LifeMakeupStyle

1. Who are you?

Hi my name is Andreia I am 24 years old and a stay at home mum to my little princess, V (9 months old). I am a avid list maker. I make lists for EVERYTHING!! In my free time I like to watch mummy vloggers on YouTube and going for strolls with my little baba. My favourite TV programme is Desperate Housewives, I keep rewatching it over and over again. Have currently just finished my 4th time.

2. How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I first discovered blogs when I was about 15 and started becoming interested in the world of makeup and fashion. I would spend every moment that I could scrolling through blogs and watching YouTube tutorials. It was always beauty and fashion related blogs until I moved out of my parents house and in with my partner. I started having a yearn for a baby so my interests changed from beauty blogs to mummy and lifestyle blogs and YouTube channels. Then about three years ago I decided to start my own blog and called it LifeMakeupStyle. I have also since started blogging about motherhood and my little peanut.

3. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because of my love for makeup and fashion. My family and friends always came to me for advice on those topics which made me think  "well, if they like what I have to say maybe other people will too?!” and that’s where my passion for blogging started.

4. What do you find most challenging?

Finding the time to write posts. Especially now that I have an infant. It’s difficult to find the time to sit down and actually think about what your writing when the baby is trying to jump inside her toy basket and gets stuck with her legs flapping around in the air. I love being a mum more that anything in this world so everything else kind of takes a back seat when it comes to baby V.

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

Motherhood and household without a doubt. I think because those two things are now what I do 24/7 so I find it easier to write about them. Sometimes I feel like I am getting too old for the beauty blogging side of my blog. It’s important to me to make other stay at home mums and young mums understand their value and offer some advice along the way

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

I began blogging for fun but have since started setting my self goals. This has been since I’ve had my daughter. I’ve become more determined to provide her with a stable future and also so that when she’s older she can read my blog when she has her own children and it will hopefully help her.

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

My favourite thing about blogging is the community. Everyone is so supportive and helpful. I also love to get emails from other mums telling me their stories and expressing their gratitude for my posts. That makes all the hard work worthwhile.

8. Have you ever attended a blogging conference and if so what did you think?

I have never attended one but hope to have the opportunity to in the future. I feel like they would be very informative and helpful.

9. What are your 3 best posts?

• My cleaning essentials

• Vaseline

• Interview with a teen mum

10. Describe yourself in 3 words

Loving motherhood always... I don’t know if that counts because it isn’t 3 different descriptive words but I feel like that small sentence sums me up to a T.

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

A little of both really. I am a “coffee and biscuits” person.

12. What is your idea of a perfect night out?

Going out for a nice dinner with my OH and the baby and then coming home to watch a movie with popcorn and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.

13. Your perfect night in?

Take-away and movie snacks whilst watching a comedy, or if it’s just me and the baby it ends up being mummy and baby in bed watching our favourite movie Moana.

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

I think they would say that I have a big heart. I always try and help everyone else and sometimes forget about myself. According to my parents I have always been like that.

Connect with Andreia on her social channels:  Instagram  -  Twitter  -  Facebook

An InLinkz Link-up

5 luxury armchair designs with the wow factor

You'll know that earlier in the year we set out on the quest for new sofas, prompted by being faced with sitting in our uncomfortable 'spare' sofa while the conservatory work took place.  The new sofas arrived as planned, they came through the door (which is always a worry) and look great.  They also brought with them plenty of cardboard, which at the time I planned to put to good use over at the allotment, trying out the 'no dig' approach to gardening, however that didn't quite work out and the cardboard I can't use in the garden will now be destined for our recycling bin.  But that's another story, and I'll be sharing more here soon, I'm sure.

Our search was focussed on sofas, but even so at times we were distracted by some gorgeous armchairs, because, well because, when shopping I'm like a magpie drawn to the pretty things.  There's something luxurious and special about a good armchair, I think, and if you’re looking to make a change this year in your interiors, but are happy with the overall look of your decor so can’t bring yourself to redecorate, then a luxury armchair is a good way to brighten up your space and give it a new lease of life. Whether you opt for an out-there statement piece, or a pair for double the impact, here are five top luxury armchair choices that all have the wow factor and will bring a sense of drama and vibrancy to your living room. 

The classic chesterfield is a timeless design that never goes out of style. Upholstered in a bright velvet it can look exceptionally modern, while a cracked leather will make the chair look more traditional. This bold velvet version by Arlo & Jacob is striking and will certainly make an impact in its setting – either paired with a similar colour palette, as shown here – or as a standout piece against a more neutral backdrop.

Or perhaps a luxury metal-framed chair is the ultimate in glamorous interior furniture. This stunning version from Liang and Eimil combines a striking geometric gold frame, with a pulled velvet cover, showing off two luxurious materials in one stunning chair. A pair of these chairs next to one another in a bay window or either side of a fireplace will score you some serious interior envy. Highlight the frame colour in your other accessories, like lamps and picture frames, and the effect will look chic and put-together. 

If you're looking for something more traditional, a Rococo style French-inspired armchair will have your regal rear feeling like it’s sat upon a throne in no time. Placed in a room with a strong patterned wallpaper and drapes, this overtly ornamental piece will take centre stage and provide the perfect perch for your derriere. This rococo-style armchair is the perfect example. 

Or perhaps you're thinking something bigger is better, and this high backed chair from Tom Dixon is no exception and likely to give you a hug every time you use it. An updated version of a classic, the curved edges and dramatic height take this traditional-inspired piece from drab to fab. What’s more, this electric blue (also available in striking black) has the ultimate wow factor for a spectacular interiors update. 

Finally, if you’re looking for something with less height but equal levels of wow-factor, then this scallop-shaped armchair could be the one. The dramatic shape is provided by the petal-like fluting to the back of the chair, giving a nod to art-deco styling. This beautiful chair from Audenza will bring a touch of glamour to your interiors and deserves to be placed next to a fully stocked liquor cabinet, but would work equally well in your bedroom. 

So, five armchairs, all different styles, all with their own wow factor. Which would you choose?

* This is a collaborative post.

Floral trumpets

At Gardener's World Live I was keen to cover every pathway in the Floral Marquee and take as many pictures as I can, but let's just say MOH wasn't so keen on my ordered approach and on occasion headed off towards whatever caught his eye.  I've shared before here how he misnames plants, I'm sure on purpose, his favourite being busy lilies (not lizzies), and so I wasn't surprised when he asked me if these were those.  

They aren't busy lizzies at all, but they are a kind of lily - you might know them as Cala or Arum lilies.  Usually here in South London we spot the white varieties in front gardens and I always think they're such an elegant plant.  It turns out the white ones are hardier than the colourful relatives, and there's quite some colours to choose from.

The pink was so bright, that you couldn't help but be taken in by it - well a girl who's a bit partial to pink, couldn't be - and gazing at it again, I think it's the same pink as my garden trug, yes the one that had the herbs in.  The purple and cream variety was much more subtle, but not uniform at all and even now I'm checking out each of the flowers and their markings.

The real star of the show was these dark red, almost black flowers - aren't they stunning?

While I like the white, I think I'd be tempted by the darker variety.  We didn't leave with any though, the thought of carrying them back to London on the train didn't appeal, actually it was the part of the journey across London and out to Greenwich that didn't appeal, getting them back from Birmingham would no doubt have been easy!

I can see that driving to Gardener's World Live definitely has it appeal, but what do you think of these canna lilies?