If I make my "to do" list I will make it happen......yeah right!!

A girl can dream of a livingroom that makes your ♥ go "swoon"

So it seems that even though Ive tackled the two biggest rooms in my house (kitchen & bathroom) that i probably have my biggest project looming just ahead of me.  My living room needs, like every other room in this house a complete and utter makeover.  But the thing is its not as easy as the other two rooms which involved minimal effort on my part.  I cleared the rooms and left the hard work to the experts, only popping back in to accessorise. This time i actually need to roll up the sleeves and do some of the hard graft.  That means staying off here and instead of looking at amazing living rooms and gushing over them, actually try to create one of my very own! This is what needs done:

1. Strip back all the walls, painted skirting's boards and door facings (how many hours on a heat gun can this girl handle i wonder?)

2. Get the doors taken off and dipped (no way on god earth am i stripping them too)

3. Rip out old fire place

4. Rip out original alcove shelves (I know its original but in totally awkward place, i will save the doors for a project so wont be a waste)

5. Plaster board fire wall to replace big gaping holes.

6. Get decorator in

7. Get flooring guy in

8. Get window cushions replaced and upholstered

9. Get new fireplace in

10. Accessorise

11.Sleep!!!!!!!!!

OK steps 1-4 i have to do (with the odd hand from my husband who i have to say is very diy shy) and will hate hate hate....5-9 should involved a few phone calls, an incredibly hot credit card and plenty of negotiations.  Step 10-11 i will absolutely most positively ♥ ♥ ♥

Stylish Blogger Award ♥

I was so chuffed when i opened my inbox to find that i had been passed my very first stylish blogger award from the lovely Ashley over at a blondes diy life, then again from the fab creative index blog and most recently from the lovely mallory over at mallicious. I really only started my blog to save all my lovely finds in one place so am still so surprised that people actually read and LIKE it.  Everyday i sign on ive got more followers, it really does make my day!  

The rules are as Follows:

1}  Select 10 blogs and pass along the award

2}  Share 7 random FAQ's about yourself

So here goes, my 10 fabulous blogs im passing this along to are:


at home with mrs m
europeanchicdesign
mama without borders
hvitetulipaner
parlour home blog
a diamond in the stuff
the fantasy decorator
once daily chic
us three birds
the decorista.


And now 7 random facts about me are:


1. When I was younger I stayed in a real life lighthouse by the sea
2.I have an 11 year old son.....and im just not old!!!!
3.I am a depute manager in a day centre for adults with learning disabilities-and love my job!!
4. I became an aunty twice in the space of two months-both my baby sister and brother both became parents for the first time(I was so excited by this)
5.I am slowly turning into a blogaholic
6.I live right by the sea
7.I love my girlfriends and love nothing better than a night with the girls, cocktails and a good sing song x




The blogs ive mentioned are really fab so you should check them out!!!

Merry Christmas to all my blogger friends....

Cuddled up on the sofa with my little one, Christmas tree lights twinkling, Christmas film on the TV, snuggled under the duvet waiting on Santa coming.  Ive had a fantastic 2010 and never dreamed that when I started my blog last year, people would actually read it and better still LIKE it....still a bit of a shocker for me but I'm slowly getting used to it.  I love the new people i have met since I've started blogging and would like to say a huge thank you to friendly cottage for being the first blog to mention mine. Carissa of the fabulous design file for being so lovely, Julie from  the fantasy decorator for always leaving lovely comments, Minnie from mama without borders for sharing my love for colour, hvite tulipaner, at home with Mrs m for following me and always popping into my blog, design-refuge,  table tonic & parlour home blog for featuring my blog and lastly to everyone else who has taken the time to stop by my blog, leave a lovely comment and follow me. It really does make my day every time i sign in and see a new face following me.  My goal for 2011 will be to reach100 followers.  I'm currently at 25 so 75 to go.  If you like my blog it would mean the world to me if you let me know by following me on Google Friends Connect.  Right am off to track Santa and see where he is at.....Merry Christmas everyone, hope you all have a fantastic holiday and Santa is good to you all, Careen xxx

Christmas Cracker.....

So I posted the other night to say that we were starting to put up all our Christmas decorations...well this morning I got up and went out to the garage, finally braving the cold to get all the decorations....after hunting for over 20 minutes it hit me.....in the summer we got our new bathroom in and in order for the plumbers to do their job they where in my garage doing work, moving things around etc.....few weeks later my brother in law very kindly offered to go to the dump with all the waste.....inside all that waste was 10 years worth of very cute and quirky Christmas decorations....so today we where a little sad.  But ive since cheered up.  We put up the tree, bought new LED lights and stuck them on and I have just went and ordered some rather funky new decorations to cheer us all up....they are so cute, i especially love the wee penguin's and fawn's.   I got them all  from paperchase.  Best part was that my lovely husband bought them, smiles all round...got a lot of collecting to do again though  x

♥ My Lovely Followers & Readers....

I really only started this blog so I could have one place to save and collect images of things that inspired me.  I never dreamed that other people would share my love for such things and actually find my blog interesting.  Every time i get a new follower or receive a lovely comment I'm still very excited,  I'm  usually straight on the computer finding out about the person, checking out their blog (if they have one) and seeing what interests them. Anyway I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all my followers and to all the lovely people that read my blog.  It really does makes me smile!

♥ Marilyn Monroe....

Christmas Is coming & we are super excited.....

So its still a bit early for the decorations but I couldn't help just a little bit of Christmas magic lol.....my daughter & I were having a secret sing song of jingle bells the other night in the kitchen.  I love Christmas time, being wrapped up all warm at nights, watching Christmas movies, eating as much food as your tummy can take, lovely twinkling lights and of course all the cheery christmas songs....just magic x

Tabletonic Love.....

Was super happy to find that table tonic  had mentioned my blog on theres especially once i had seen how fab the blog and shop is.  Just wanted to say a big thanks to Louise for the mention and also to  my followers and other people that stop by my blog, means a lot to know that my daily ramblings are not going by un-noticed...keeps me motivated and wanting to do more to this crazy house that is still partially in the 60's lol x

Bathroom make-over got into the final......

Eeeek super happy tonight, and heres why: My bathroom make-over got into the final 10 over at design-refuge.  If you like my new bathroom please vote for me, it really would make me super happy:)  Also I'm just back from my Zumba class , the girl is amazing, we are burning something crazy like 1000 calories in an hour (if your doing it full on lol) Its so much fun even if I have zero co-ordination or rhythm. Then my mum called to say that my little girl who just turned 4 is daft for her small Jack Russell, Eva adores all animals and loves her wee dog looby so much, my mum heard her earlier on in the living room cuddling her wee dog and patting it on the head,  saying to her "aww looby your such a clever wee dog, now you've got a brain!!", awww kids are so funny, as you may have guessed she has been watching wizard of oz lately.  I'm going to smile all night now today has been a good day x

Sick Day from Work Love.......

My first official sick day from work since starting almost a year, and it really is grudged.  I  hate taking time off work but most of all hate being sick.  My poor kids have also caught the "sick bug" so although I'm feeling lousy I'm happy to be snuggled up with them on the sofa with a big comfy duvet and honey i shrunk the kids on TV.  I really hope no one comes to the door today because I'm still in my Jammie's, my hair resembles a yeti and the face looks similar to Casper.  Sometimes its the really simple days you spend with your kids doing nothing apart from cuddling in and watching daytime TV that you appreciate the most......this lovely image from me and alice sums up how our day has went so far.  Really like this blog!!!! and really love spending my sick day with my  beautiful kids x

Rosie's Rocks Unique Bling Love.......

How fab is this cute little handmade tensha necklace designed by one of my bestest friends in the world and found here at her Etsy Store Rosie's Rocks.  There are some lovely necklaces and bracelets on there, please go check them out, Rosie has just started out on this adventure after years of blinging away for herself, her family and her friends.