House-Hunting Truths

Here are some things I'm finding that I've had to get used to this week.

Suddenly calling my boyfriend my partner — We're still only 25, and yeah, we've been together 9 years this year, but that's still weird.

Perspective — In no other realm is £200,000 considered cheap.

Getting prepared to hand over all our money in the world in the blink of an eye — This game moves quickly, and it's crazy and scary but apparently how things need to be done.

Rightmove and Zoopla are not the house hunting saviours they claim to be — Actually speaking face-to-face with estate agents and (unfortunately) sales people (when it comes to new builds) is how to get things moving, so it feels kind of similar to job hunting. So while you'll be asked 50 times what your email and the first line of your address is, it seems like it's the best way to actually get to see a house you might (if you're like lightning) be able to put an offer in for. Also, apparently some estate agents put things up on a right move for the hell of it rather than because they're actually available.

Help-To-Buy is not actually particularly helpful — The age-old saying that if something sounds to good to be true then it probably is. While it sounds incredibly attractive to pay much less for a house now than you would without the help of this government scheme, the whole thing seems designed to land you in even more debt in the long run. Correct me if I'm wrong but this is how I see it; with Help-To-Buy you'll be able to borrow 20% of the value of your new home interest-free for 5 years (brilliant, where do I sign up?). Here's the catch, after these five years, when you're likely to be thinking about re-financing, you can either pay off the lump-sum, because people can often manage to save that amount of money that easily in that short space of time, or you can add it to your mortgage, meaning you'll owe more money on that than you did five years ago, with interest. It seems to me that they're really taking advantage of non-forward thinkers and here was the real kicker that put me off it for good - if after 5 years you want to sell your home, you have to pay 20% of that value rather than the original amount of money you borrowed. Brilliant.
I would bet - given that reserving a home under help-to-buy with new builds is half the price, that most developers are in kahoots and with some having such great sales people, it's certainly something I would watch out for.

No viewing before open houses — Because even though someone can come out from under your nose and steal a home you want to buy anyway, it's more courteous that everyone should view it first, on the same day, in the most intense house-viewing circumstances ever.

Everyone's got an in-house mortgage advisor — It looks like this house-hunting 'journey' is really going to teach me to say 'no'.

Lists are not enough — With phone calls, call-backs, e-mails and my own Internet scouring, it's already kind of difficult to keep track of where I'm going, what I'm looking at and what my next step is. Like, I'm meant to be going to an open house today, the viewing is at 3pm but I have no idea where it is, I wrote the first part down but was meant to get an e-mail and that's as far as it got. Worst part, I don't remember who it was with so I can't even give them a call-back to find out; they're in a long list that has since started to mean nothing to me. Good.

I've likened house-hunting to job hunting a lot this week and if you've followed me for a long time, you'll know how much I hated job hunting after I first graduated. It's still not something I would say I'm particularly enamoured with but luckily it's not something that's on my mind right now anyway. House-hunting might even be worse, because at least you're not giving away £hundreds of thousands to get what you want when you're looking for a job and even with that scary money element, there still comes rejection. Awful.

Obviously I've just got to see how it goes and while I'm still excited, I'm scared and frustrated too, I've had enough of horrible carpets, wonky cupboards, upstairs neighbours and no double glazing, I just want to get things going.

Merry #Nextmas!

Next is up there in this house. My sofa, which I love, is from Next, I'll only buy my jeans from Next and I really admire them for being one of the few high-street stores to not stoop to the (in my opinion) ridiculously irrelevant Black Friday discounts.

So naturally, with Christmas coming ever closer, there are quite a few items from Next on my list to Santa this year. Luckily for me, Next have #NextmasWishlist, a fun, festive competition offering the chance to win some goodies.

1. Christmas Pudding Ballerinas – How cute are these? I've never really thought about festive footwear before but it'd be hard to stop wearing these once the season is over.
2. Moose Table Lamp – Moose seem to be 'in' at the moment and I'm totally not complaining. Since I accidently smashed our bedroom light with some overzealous dusting I think this guy would make the perfect replacement.
3. Cat Igloo Bed – As I've constantly been reminded, it's Christmas for pets too and I've been on the look-out for a new bed for little Doll for a while. While she's pretty content with the box that some Christmas gifts arrived in recently, I can definitely see her in this.
4. Moose Door Knocker – As I said, moose are in. I definitely think this guy is worth hoarding until we get our own 'proper' place.
5. Joyeaux Noel Luxury Fragranced Diffuser – I'm a sucker for most kinds of home fragrance, and in the absence of a real Christmas tree (not actually something I mind by the way), filling the flat with all sorts of Christmassy smells is just about the next best thing. Having had a whiff of this in the shop, this might be the item on this list that I'm most hankering for.
   
6. Flashing Reindeer Christmas Sweater – It wouldn't be a Christmas wishlist in 2014 without a fancy Christmas jumper. This ones an absolute triple-threat too, not only is it a lovely green with an adorable reindeer print, it features flashing LED light details(!!!)
7. Light-Up Card Holder – I think this is pretty cute for all year round as a full-on noticeboard but the fact it lights up makes it festive as well as adorable.
8. Tonal Faux Fur Throw – These faux fur throws are everywhere and I love how luxurious they look. Great for curling up on the sofa or adding additional warmth in bed. They're softer than the cat too, which is the measurement for all softness.
9. Oh Wake Up Cuffed Floral Pyjama Set – Florals are good for all year round and winter and the Christmas season are made for pyjamas. Perfect.
10. Pink + Gold Sports Watch – Very similar to a Kate Spade watch I've had my eye on, this one comes in at a slightly more purse-friendly price for a fashion watch, which is usually a deal-maker.

It wasn't hard for me to skim through the Next website and pick out a mixture of the lovely homewares and clothing that they're so good at.

From a merchandising perspective by the way, the website is brilliant and actually pretty fun to browse, throwing in a great mix of more traditional online shop layout and an interactive catalogue, good job, guys!

You can go to the Next website now too to take part in #NextmasWishlist, with the chance to win up to 10 Next products of your choice, it's worth a shot, right?

Paper Wishlist.

It's no secret that I'm a big stationery fan, in fact starting a new notebook is one of those satisfying little things that just brings me joy. That said, with growing older, in the same way I've (tried to) work my wardrobe, I've found that a few key pieces that I'll actually use are far more important than picking up every pretty-looking thing I can get my hands on.

I was renowned for starting notebooks and moving onto another one before getting halfway through. Now, I try to make the most of what I've got before starting again, we're still talking about stationery here.

With all that said, Christmas is coming and that marks a point where it's time to start new diaries and re-write dates to remember in calendars, and with that said, here are four paper-related things on my Christmas wishlist this year.


1 // 2015 Frankie Diary – I picked up a Frankie Diary last year and have used it throughout 2014, still loving its cutesy page designs and having a space to physically write out my weekly plans - Google calendar just isn't the same but I do put everything everywhere. The likelihood is that I'll be bagging the 2015 diary as a gift to myself before Christmas rolls around but it's so beautiful that I thought it was the decent thing to share it with you all the same.

2 // Cat Daddy by Jackson Galaxy – I came across My Cat from Hell a little while ago and as someone whose cat isn't from hell but is a lot more standoffish than I would like, I do enjoy learning about acceptable cat behaviour and why Doll is the way she is. This book might be a bit of a throwaway and I do have plenty of books on my 'to-read' list at the moment but it also seems like an easy read to pass the time over the Christmas holidays.

3 // One Line a Day: A Five Year Memory Book – This looks like the first diary of its kind that might work out pretty well for me. Much easier to do that write a whole entry, it would be really nice to have something like this to look back on.

4 // Rifle Paper Co. 2015 Appointment Calendar – Isn't this beautiful? I've admired the Rifle Paper Company from afar for what feels like ages now but this is the first practical piece of their's that I've genuinely wanted to get my hands on. Like I said, I write everything everywhere and a paper calendar is a must for our kitchen.

Do you have any stationery on your Christmas wishlist this year?

Doing Words.

[unknown]Might not be a surprise given the radio silence, but I've so not been feeling my computer recently.

Sitting on social media all day most days for a job and then coming home and doing it for fun... well, it kind of lost its fun, not completely I'm just not into creating any content. I've been using my computer to watch my American TV shows, do a bit of Christmas shopping price comparison and that's pretty much been it.

I have a bit of a backlog of posts I want to schedule but can't find the motivation to, it will happen, when I get two minutes to not clean the flat, brush the cat or catch up on the latest episode of The Missing - sure, it's a BBC Drama but I'm h-o-o-k-e-d!

So I've been lazy rather than busy but that's okay. I first saw this what feels like ages ago on Chelsea's blog and it feels like as good a filler as any to push me back into this thing.

Making :: Long to-do lists.
Cooking :: Easy things and broccoli.
Drinking :: More merlot, less rosé.
Reading :: 'In Real Life' - Nev Schulman.
Wanting :: This Seasalt parka.
Looking :: Tired with quite fluffy hair.
Playing :: Christmas songs.
Wasting :: Avocados, I don't have enough of a recipe repertoire to make the most of a twin pack.
Deciding :: The best way to be diplomatic about upcoming situations.
Wishing :: I had more lounge time.
Enjoying :: Earlier bedtimes.
Waiting :: For Christmas! ♥
Liking :: Finally actually feeling settled.
Wondering :: How long I can get away with not wrapping the Christmas gifts piling up in our front room.
Loving :: Planning the exciting things 2015 is set to hold.
Considering :: Mainly lunches for the week, but also mortgage advisors and where the best place to move will be.
Watching :: 'The Missing' - Sad to have all caught up and back to being drip-fed for the last two episodes.
Hoping :: That late-November's great news marks a spot of luck.
Marvelling :: At the cat's undying love for boxes.
Needing :: To prioritise.
Smelling :: Of Christmas cranberry moisturiser.
Wearing :: Pyjamas as soon as I get in the house.
Following :: Exposure on Pinterest and getting some srs wanderlust feels.
Noticing :: How much growing up I've done in the last 18 months, when did I become this chill?!
Knowing :: That I shouldn't feel too bad about intoruth not getting as much attention.
Thinking :: Sometimes it's dangerous to be a good judge of character.
Feeling :: Excited that there's only one more weekend until my sister is back from Hong Kong for Christmas!
Admiring :: How on-point everyone's VM becomes at Christmas-time.
Buying :: Christmas gifts, despite it being trickier than ever this year - and cushions for myself because I needed new ones and I survived Christmas shopping on a Sunday.
Getting :: Ill, slowly.
Bookmarking :: Things I might want once the Christmas sale kicks in and this post from Joy the Baker.
Opening :: Gifts I've bought for other people as they arrive through the post.
Giggling :: At mine and my sister's weekly life updates.

There's not a lot going on at the moment but I'll get back to you in a minute...

Northern Ireland To-Dos.

Hello, I'm Ruth and I'm a perpetual list-maker.
Our visit to Ireland this time round is definitely designed to be a decompress and de-stress kind of trip but the planner in me does have a few things I'd like to do while we're there.

Things have settled down a lot now Moon's dad is based there more permanently and we'll be heading over that way more often as time goes on but I think because it's by the seaside, I'm always going to see it as a holiday and holidays always call for making a few plans.

I'm really looking forward to this trip as we'll be going it alone for a couple of days beforehand and it marks my last proper holiday until Christmas (I should think) before I start my new job.

Do you have any County Antrim travel tips that you'd be willing to share?
You can check out posts from my previous trips :: here.

:: Have you entered my giveaway to win tickets to the Royal Berkshire County Show on the 20th September? ::

Smiling on Sunday :: Five.

[source]
This week has been one that's been full of second-hand stress but also excitement at the prospect of new beginnings and an(other) upcoming mini-break.

I'm not sure I know how to feel about finishing up my first proper grown-up job knowing that it's something that I wanted for such a long time. I'm really grateful for the opportunities they gave me and for the people I've met who have become friends. While I do feel sad about the state that it's in and leaving, I know it's the right time for me and it marks the beginning of something different.

I think it has been kind of difficult to find things to smile about this week because I've spent so much time feeling generally stressed and annoyed but there's something to be said about finding the good in bad situations.

IRL:

• Making plans for Northern Ireland - It's been pretty fun to pick and choose where we're going for our upcoming trip, naturally Pinterest has been a great help. I'm especially excited about a proper day in Belfast, as well as getting to spend some more time with some of Moon's extended family and maybe even go on my first ever fishing trip!
• Moving on to pastures new - As I said above, overall I'm not sure how to feel about it but I feel very excited about the progress that it all symbolises, maybe this time next year I'll be a real grown up
• Visits from friends - Even though we didn't manage to get even close to getting the whole 'gang' together last weekend, I do feel pretty blessed to have the friends that I do. As a self-confessed actual moody cat, I sometimes feel amazed that I've been able to maintain these friendships. It probably has a lot to do with what a great guy Moon is but I'm quite thankful for that too so...

Must-Try Recipes:

• Mexican Street Corn Croquettes - This is one I'm going to force myself to make before the day is done. I've been a bit obsessed with corn since my birthday dinner at La Bodega Negra and have wanted to try corn fritters for ages. This is the most hassle-free recipe I've found, does look like I'll be sourcing some panko breadcrumbs today though
• Blackberry Pie Bars - September is blackberry season and while I've not managed to find any brambles yet, you can bet I'm on the look out. Picking fruit is all well and good but foraging is all the more fun if you have a neat recipe to back it up
• Melty Ham, Brie and Peach Toastie - There aren't many words I can find for this one and I know it's not really a recipe but if you can ever go wrong with anything related to melted cheese I'd like to hear about it

Lovely Links:

• Clare's post about losing weight was a pretty brave one and I really feel for her both generally and because I had a similar kind of healthy-living epiphany at the beginning of the year
• Bee from Vivatramp's How to Get Out of a Reading Slump tips were really good. Having got back into the reading swing of things over the summer, it's nice to see that there are other people out there who slack in the book department sometimes too. After reading academically (yes, we do that on Photography degrees too) for such a long time up until I went away to Portugal it had been such a long while since I'd read book after book like I used to. Admittedly I put off reading my last book for quite some time but I'm hoping to be on to the next one once we're on the plane to Ireland
• How wonderful is Film4's re-brand? I must admit that I do skip over Film4 as a channel a bit because... well, films with adverts doesn't appeal but as a full-time film appreciator, their upcoming 16 shorts are really intriguing. Not only do they look stunning, they'll be full of cinematic references and the photo-nerd in me almost can't handle the fact they'll mostly be edited in-camera - can't wait!
• Emily Blincoe was featured on Mashable this week. I have followed her Instagram for a while now, I think I found her through one of The Dainty Squid's Friday Favourites posts, but I thought it was about time I shared her with you. Her work is just so satisfying to look at, I hear she's working with brands like Target now too which is so awesome
  

:: Have you entered my giveaway to win tickets to the Royal Berkshire County Show on the 20th September? ::

Smiling on Sunday :: Four.

[source]
This week has felt short and long in many respects, I'm quite pleased to be hanging on to the weekend with an extra day added to my bank holiday and it only being Sunday.

There has been quite a bit to be pleased about this week, even if a lot of it has involved making grown up decisions that no one is able to make for me - a small part of me misses the time when I was always told what to do.

IRL:

• I got a new job! - After the uncertain feeling from last week, things seem to have turned around a bit, as I've noticed it seems to since doing these round-ups, maybe nothing is really worth the dramz. But yes, pending contracts and the like, I'll be a Digital Marketing Executive come the middle of September. It all marks the beginning of exciting (and scary) things
• Cups of tea post-dinner - This week I've been getting into the habit of making myself a nice cup of tea after dinner, not only that but I've managed to catch it at the perfect temperature when I come to drink it too. This is something that I tend to do more once it gets cooler but given that I've spent more nights this week with a blanket wrapped around me than not, I think it's justified
• Having the bed to myself for a few minutes each morning - What this really means is that Moon is having to get up earlier to beat traffic and coming home super-sleepy in the evenings because of it but there's something really good about starfishing out for an extra 10 minutes before it's time to make myself presentable

Must-Try Recipes:

• 21 Energy Boosting Breakfast Toasts - I think breakfast is my favourite meal of the day but I do still find my tummy rumbling at work come 11am, not good. Toast is usually what I go for but after seeing these, I recognise that what I'm putting on it might not make for the most nutritional breakfast. Definitely willing to give some of these a try, may avoid the ones with cottage cheese though
• Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup - I know it seems silly for it to be August and to be talking about soups but it's been so chilly around these parts, plus it's such a bright colour you could say it's summery. I made a stew at the beginning of the week, while I hope the weather does warm up, I do miss my staple one-pot dishes a little bit
• Chicken Cashew Lettuce Wraps - This is what I feel like we should be having, and on a warmer afternoon at the beginning of the month we had something very similar at my mum's. I always forget it exists, I think because I don't care for iceberg lettuce very much but as a wrap, it's a wonderful way to make a dish more refreshing

Lovely Links:

The birthday dinner party Ally from Now That's Pretty threw for her boyfriend looks wonderful. She's given some great tips for throwing your own big dinner party too, makes me wish our friends lived nearer to us so we could pull one of these out 'just because' rather than for a special occasion.

Lyzi's photographs from her Bucket List Balloon Ride are truly awesome. Going up in an air balloon is something I've always wanted to do, it looks so fun and peaceful.

Charlotte's post from her trip to Dublin had me quite excited to take a trip to Southern Ireland. With the Irish side of my family being from Belfast, most holidays to Ireland have been in Northern Ireland or more to the west. I think I've only been to Dublin once and I spent the day grumpy (because I am grumpy, not because of Dublin) and I think it's only fair to give it another go.

Next Week's Motto: 'You get out what you put in...'
What's made you smile this week?

Level Up.

I think I thought I would have things all figured about by the time I made it to 25 but as I gradually approached it I guess I realised that probably wouldn't happen.

I mean, that's okay though. It's less okay that I get more pimples now then I did 10 years ago but the fact that a mortgage feels a thousand miles away is something I can live with.

I'm still not a whizz at public speaking, am poor at maths and haven't really figured out my true calling - I guess I'm learning to get over that though because the main thing I've learnt in recent years is that no one really cares about what you're doing enough that you should worry yourself with it.


20 :: In France.


21 :: In my Gran's Garden. [x]


22 :: Southbank. [x]


23 :: Atomic Pizza. [x]


24 :: Longleat Safari Park [x]
Turning 25, or aging on any level, really isn't something that bothers me yet. The way I see it, the older I get, the more I'll have figured out and the more I'll be able to move forward - and that's got to be a good thing.

My Furry Friend Tag :: Reintroducing Dolly

There's not nearly enough Doll-talk on here recently and although her face crops up occasionally, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't know I even had a cat.

When I first got Dolly, I feel like I talked about her constantly but as time has gone on and she's become more free to roam outside and I've become more busy, I guess we just spend less time together than we did. That isn't to say we don't spend quite a bit of time together, I'm just not unemployed any more. Coming home have her nuzzle me for a good 15 minutes before she realises she's supposed to be indifferent to me is pretty nice and most weekends when we're at home, she's usually hovering somewhere so we're definitely still buds.

I just think she needs her presence brought back here a little more, she's a big part of my life, right? So when I saw Jen from Bows, Bangles and Bakes had done something called a My Furry Friend Tag, I thought it was perfect. Naturally, it fell by the wayside as it was a few months ago now but it's stuck with me and as I'm trying to make a bit more of an effort to be more varied recently, now seems like as good a time as any.

---

What is your pet’s name?
Dolly

What kind of pet are they and what breed?
She's a cat and there might be some kind of Turkish Van in her but the vet is pretty sure she's just a moggie.

How long have you had your pet?
2 Years 7 Months.

How did you get your pet?
My mum called me up and said the chefs for her restaurant had had a little cat come into their house and it was scraggly and gross but if I met it and wanted it I could have it - otherwise it would be going to the RSPCA. When I got to their house, it was love at first sight, she even came up to shake my hand, something she still does occasionally with new visitors.


How old are they?
We think Doll was around 4 months when we found her so she's probably 3 years old in September. I usually celebrate her 'Gotcha Day' as I actually know when that is.

What are some quirky things about your pet’s personality?
She's aloof and needy all at the same time. She wants to be near you but just out of arm's reach - so you know, like how most people think cats are really. She can be sweet though and she is pretty simple I guess, she has also never ever scratched me or anyone she's met.


What does your relationship with your pet mean to you?
There's no doubt about it that she knows I'm the one who takes care of her and I'm a pretty darn good cat mum if I do say so myself. Obviously she means a lot, I like being her favourite human in the house and even if she's recently discovered another way to show her affection is to bring us mice and baby birds, it's just nice to have her around.

What are some of your favourite past times with your pet?
We play chase quite a bit, and she loves this laser pointer we got her. A bit of string will easily amuse our Doll, but having her there when I wake up on one of those rare occasions I've sneaked an afternoon nap and find her napping with me is the sweetest.


What are nicknames that you call your pet?
Doll, Little Doll, Little Cat, Little Owl, Goose, Gross Girl.

Favourite toy?
It changes all the time, as most things do with cats. She has an old troll doll that she likes to throw around, and one of Moon's softballs. Like I said, she loves string. What usually happens is she'll play with something for ages and then hide it somewhere so we can't play with it with her, then she finds it again and repeats. Life as a cat is simple and good.

---

If you're interested in seeing a bit more of Doll's little owl face, she definitely features a lot more over on my Instagram (@intoruth), usually in great sleeping positions. ♥

Smiling on Sunday.

[source]
It's been what feels like an absolute age since I've shared anything other than my weekends on here, I did have grand plans to do a bit more with this little space of mine but sitting at a computer all day makes me want to get as far away as possible from a screen once I get home and have time to do what I enjoy. It's a shame but I guess it's just how it goes and I've been seeing it more and more as the blogs I follow grow up with me.

Still, I like having this as a creative outlet and the Internet is a fun place to hang out on occasion so even if this doesn't become a regular thing, I thought it would be good to share a bit of love and some fun things I've found recently.


Books getting turned into films before they've even been published is something that doesn't really sit well with me. Don't get me wrong, I love films but usually enjoy the book counterpart better when it comes down to it. A trailer for a book is the neatest idea though and something people should consider more often. The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern is definitely on my to-read list, what can I say, I'm a sucker for good design and that cover and trailer just got me.


I love this sea bass bag from Don Fisher, it even has a boney fishy lining.


Cereal Magazine has been on my list of 'must subscribe' magazines for a little over a year now. I still haven't got around to it, but love reading their blog so much. With my current severe case of wanderlust and plans to actually, finally book a trip to Iceland for November, their photographs are really making me feel inspired.


Fritha from Tigerlily Quinn got engaged last week and her engagement story is lovely. It's a two-parter and I was on tenterhooks after reading the first half. I'm not quite at that stage where I feel ready to go through anything similar but I can't help but feel a little mushy.


I'm determined that once we move from our little flat here in Newbury that most of the furnishings will be nice, neutral wood. I think this make up station from iSkelter is a good place to start.


It's certainly wedding season, and like I said, I can't help feel mushy but this wedding shot by Rachel Thurston looks kind of perfect, right down to the homemade mini golf.


Must admit that I'm a little over the whole 'abandon porn' thing, but Kaylah from The Dainty Squid has always done it so well and this abandoned amusement park does look like a great place to do a bit of exploring.
Other links:

• 43 Things That Will Actually Make You Feel Old - Buzzfeed - home incessant lists - always one for making you remember you were once a 90's kid
• This Article of Cast Members Reminiscing About 'The Life Aquatic' - Most things Bill Murray have my full attention
• These Wise Words sooth my anxiety
• Theron's (of Maddie on Things fame) website makes my whole heart sing. His Instagram is pretty dreamy too, full of sweet portraits of Maddie and the fun they have on their adventures

I hope that you enjoy the rest of your Sunday and that Monday isn't too hard on you. ♥

A Little Wishlist.

If it weren't for the fact that I've spent nearly all of January being particularly skint, I'd say that I've also been pretty good at saving, which is definitely something I want to try and get really good at this year.

With that being said, it's pretty difficult not to spy fun things to splash out on, besides, one of these things isn't even for me.

1. Eliza and The Bear 'Southern Wild' Sweatshirt – Having heard Eliza and the Bear on Xfm a couple of weeks ago, I've fallen for them. Their song 'It Gets Cold' was an instant favourite and 'Southern Wild' allowed me to be reminded of the wonders of the 'Beasts of Southern Wild soundtrack. The fact that this sweatshirt has a bear on it only sweetens the deal, I really like the colour and it's not going to be warm enough to go without some extra layers for a while so it would be a welcome addition.
2. Not Another Bill Subscription Box – This might be the best subscription box idea I've seen to date. I think they look to provide great 'boyfriend' gifts and with Moon's birthday coming up at the beginning of March it couldn't have been discovered at a better time! Not only do they post gifts from independent designers but quite a few past gifts have featured nice fonts and wood, two of Moon's favourites. I'm hoping that a three-month subscription will be fun and different, and perfect for a boy who never tells anybody what he wants.
3. Muffin-Top Mattress – A rather silly (grown-up) thing to get excited about but this mattress from Loaf.com looks like an absolute dream. My spare time has been a lot about sleeping recently and although this is a bit extravagant, it's probably about third or fourth on our list of 'home priorities' if we decide to stay put.
4. Month Toothbrushes – Spotted on the 'past gifts' section of 'Not Another Bill', these wooden brushes are so cute and definitely make me a little resentful of my boring electric toothbrush. They serve a practical use as well as looking great too and let you know how long you should use them for.
5. Scout Motto Doormat – This definitely makes me long for a door that comes in from outside, sadly the dark corridor that is our hallway just wouldn't do this cute doormat justice but it can just sit here until I can do something with it.

Are you looking forward to pay-day? What do you think of Not Another Bill?

Monday Resolutions.

[x]
I'm feeling creative, after finishing up Sunday evening with some real-life scrapbooking and watching the visually stunning Only God Forgives, I'm starting the week feeling a little more inspired than usual.

This week I hope to:

1. Sleep more.
2. Catch up.
3. Keep drawing.
4. Read more.
5. Concentrate.

Come on, Monday, let's do this!

Friday Finds.

TGIF! Isn't it wonderful that the sun is going to finally shine this weekend? We've decided to postpone the gathering we had planned in favour of a bit more quality time together, something we haven't really managed to fit in around our recent house guest and being so busy going other places to visit people and having people visit us. I definitely think a lie-in is in order, but we haven't really made any solid plans yet, other than to collect Moon's Glastonbury ticket from the post office, pretty exciting!

I haven't done a post like this in a little while, and I guess that's a combination of not really wanting to spend my time browsing online when I spend all day at work in front of a computer, as well as not really being inspired by anything in particular that I've seen. That said, after going to the Soho Flea Market last weekend, my hunt for pretty things has been revitalised slightly, so here are some things I'd like to share with you ♥.


[Oh No Rachio!]
This week has felt a little tougher than some, and it's definitely one that feels like it calls for satisfying typographic motivational artwork.


[Maiden]
How sweet are these lamb salt & pepper shakers? If only salt & pepper shakers were more disposable or more acceptable as ornaments, I would replace my pug salt & pepper shakers, at least for spring/summer, in an instant.


[Finest Imaginary]
I think I'm catching Moon's compulsion to love all things wooden. First my Designosaur triceratops necklace and now I'm really lusting after this custom-made wooden name necklace. You know, because my huge Tatty Devine name necklace doesn't fulfill my need to own things with my name on.



[Claudia Varosio]
I do love a good alternative movie poster and Claudia Varosio's are just great. I might have to make some wall space just so I can justify her totally awesome Wes Anderson posters.


[Modcloth]
This long-sleeved t-shirt would be oh so perfect for Glastonbury, it's kind of obvious and subtle at the same time, and I like that. I'm always keeping my fingers and toes crossed that one day Modcloth UK shipping will be reasonable enough to justify buying just one thing - or that they'll just give in and open up a UK Site, they have the best stuff!


[Art Pause]
A map made up of cats, I'm not sure I need to say much more...


[Craft Schmaft]
Since seeing such pretty ballon-centric things on my recent trips to Bristol, I've become a little obsessed. I love Ally from Now That's Pretty's post about the Hot Air Balloon Party she had and she also did a great tutorial for making your own. I'd love to have the time to make my own, but this little kit seems like a happy medium and has potential to not result in a total #PinterestFail twist.