Easter Schmeaster!!!!

So, we're half way through the Easter hols and surviving.....Just!

As usual, teen boy has barely left his room, I swear that child will become transparent! He spends hours permanently attached to 2 sets of headphones, one for the X-Box and one for his iPad, he plays games online with his mates and watches videos on his iPad at the same time! The ultimate multitasker!!!
This pic says it all!

My little lady has been busy, she's done a photo shoot for our friend who is currently studying Photography for her GCSE and needed a little model. Our lovely friend Kassi did her makeup and hair and she looked absolutely stunning. The pics that were taken are amazing and I can't wait to see the end results. Her Mum and I were very much involved in the shoot, holding up sheets as backgrounds and offering direction on poses. I think she'll do very well in her exam!!!

So it's been a week of visitors too. First we had my Mother in law to stay, the poor thing took a wrong turn on the way here and what should have been a 3.5 hour journey, ended up lasting 10.5 hours and we had to go on a rescue mission to locate her and bring her home! The irony of the situation was that sitting on our dining room table was a beautifully wrapped Satnav for her!!! Needless to say, her journey home was much improved and only took 3 hours 35 minutes!!!! We didn't do much while Mum was here, we had a lovely indian takeaway, dragged her round the town centre and made her chill out, something she doesn't do a great deal of! I think she had a nice time though.

Then we had my sister in law and her two little ladies visit. Although we had to deal with some tiredness and the resulting whinging, we had fun. The kids enjoyed a trip to the Town park, the adults? Not so much, it was bloody cold and windy! And it wasn't helped by the girls forcing us onto some of the play equipment, like a weird seesaw "thing". Picture me...5'4" and pretty damn heavy on one end and my tall, willowy sister in law on the other....the poor thing spent most of her time screeching in mid air as I crashed my butt into the sand! LMAO! We also had a go on one of those large round swings and spent the next half an hour recovering from motion sickness!!!! That evening, we managed to drag the teen from his bedroom and went for dinner at The Apley Arms, a Toby carvery, what a wonderful meal! I swear those Yorkshire puds are made in heaven and the carver always manages to find me the crispy ends of beef!!!!!

We also visited Jackfield Tile Museum in Ironbridge, something we try and do every school holiday. We spend a couple of joyful hours creating our own tiles in the workshop there! We even got the hubster involved this time! Our tile collection is growing rapidly and one day I'll get them all mounted and put on display, they're pretty damn good if I say so myself!!! 

Today began with an easter egg hunt for the girls, followed by a lovely stroll through Apley Woods with the dogs! I love that place, it's what's left of a stately home and it's grounds. Not huge, but enough for the dogs to have a run around and enough of the interesting parts of the gardens are left standing to amuse the kids! It's a magnet for dog walkers and we invariably end up having lovely conversations with fellow dog owners there. We always see such a range of mutts there, from the pedigree to the mongrel, all well loved, lots of rescue dogs, just like our own, and all with an interesting tale to tell! I love it!

So, that's all for now! This coming week will be fab; a visit from my Daddy, Meerkats, a very long run and a trip back home! So look out for an update in a week or so!

Thanks for reading! xxxx

Links from this week's post:

For more information on Kassi and her stunning hair and makeup artistry;

Kassi Leigh Hair and Makeup Artist

Check out Apley Woods;

Apply Woods

Jackfield Tile Museum and all the amazing Ironbridge museums;

Jackfield Tile Museum

Men in muscle costumes!

So, after bringing this back to life the other night, I went to bed with ideas galore blossoming in my head!

What to write about next? Not the dogs or the new house,  I won't torture you with them for a little while yet! lol Although, no doubt they'll get a mention here and there! But since first writing, I've drawn a blank! Until tonight!

We just went to see Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice! Oh My God!!!! What an awesome movie! Quite a long film and I admit to having a little Nana Nap half way through! But it was so good! Out of my family, I'm the only one who thinks so, the general consensus was that it was "Okay", hubby thinks it has a weak storyline and the boy was typically unimpressed! But Me; I began viewing a total Batman addict, never having liked Superman all that much, but, I emerged an absolute Superman fan! I was bought up on Batman & Robin (Adam West and Burt Ward) and Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) and have always been quite a traditionalist when it comes to these characters. My best childhood friend Kerry and I started our very own Woman Woman club at about the age of 7. We absolutely adored her, we made membership cards, badges and various other members specialities and had weekly meetings at Kerry's house! Her brothers and their friends thought this was hilarious (they were much older) and started their own rival Superman club! Perhaps this is why i never took to Superman? They would torment the living daylights out of us! But we were happy and very proud of our efforts! My love of Wonder Woman has continued to this day! How weird am I? 45 years old and still loving my superheroes! Oh well, I care not! I'm happy in my own special world and I'm really looking forward to the Justice League part 1, which is set to be released next year! I'm particularly looking forward to a bit of Jason Momoa as Aquaman! That man is just gorgeous!!!!!

The next movie of this ilk to see is Suicide Squad; now that looks to be a cracker! Roll on August!!!!

That's all for now, I'm going to watch another very yummy chap now as he rides the Wall of Death! 

Until my next post, Ciao! xxx

Blimey! She's back!

So, it's been a while since my last post, not the best blogger in the world! lol

A lot has changed since i last posted, we've finally bought a house and settled down after 20 years of Army life and endless moving. It feels really weird to not have the safety net of being able to abort mission every 2 years. It was something of a comfort to know that if a posting wasn't going too well, was boring, crappy area, whatever the reason, we could escape to the next place and get on with life. Now the anchor has been dropped and we're building a life in our newly chosen hometown, helped along by some amazing friends, a gorgeous new house and the knowledge that we'll never again pay for shoddy military housing with excessively high heating bills due to poor maintenance on the building! Maaaaaaarvellous! 

So, with the newly planted seeds of home starting to take root, I decided to firstly get a job, more on that in a moment, to also continue with Bandana Heaven and to attempt to blog again! Let's see how long my efforts last this time! lol

The job
I've searched for nearly 3 years for a job that i could work around the 2 kids and not have to leave the dogs alone too long. Well, I finally found it! I call people to book appointments for them etc. Not the most exciting of jobs, but I get to chat to some lovely people, encounter some hilarious names and best of all, work from home! Perfect!

The Dogs
We've still got Stanley, my perfect little confused Staffie and he now has a little sister called Iris, she's a Staffie cross. We thought she would be company for him as he always seemed desperate for a friend. Sadly it hasn't quite worked out that way! Don't get me wrong, she's a beautiful little lady, we love her to bits, she's feisty, funny and a total babe, but she's so bossy to Stanley! She nicks his bed, stops him from jumping on my lap for hugs and is really rather rotten to him! Poor Stan, we still have our cuddles, we just have to be a little secretive now! lol

So, that's all for now, I'll bore you some more very shortly! I have plans for some life hacks, cleaning tips and hoping for some vintage events to talk about very soon too!

Toodle Pip xxx

Not such a good finish

Well, where do I start? Not such a good finish to what was a wonderful week!

Been having a spot of bother with my back and sitting sewing in a draught at the shop was not the best way forward, so since Saturday, I've been forced to rest and get everything working again! 

On top of a back in spasm, I had the really sad news that my Auntie died this morning at 6am and my Mum was back in hospital with breathing problems (she's only recently been released from hospital for the same thing!). Thankfully, it turns out that Mum has the adult version of Whooping Cough and has been given shed loads of antibiotics to get her well again! Fingers crossed she's got many years left in her!!!!

On a plus note, the Army beat the Navy at rugby, or should I say they thrashed them?!?!? Mwahahahahaaaa

And because I've been immobile, all the ironing has been done for me! My 50's housewife persona has breathed a huge sigh of relief! Thank you Hubster for becoming me! 

So, before my lovely pain relief kicks in, I just want to wish you all a happy bank holiday weekend, I hope you don't suffer any hangover tomorrow! I myself am watching Star Wars! Whoop!!!

Have fun xxx

What a week!

Well, I have had the best and most thrilling 7 days ever!

It may not seem interesting to most, but last weekend was spent at The Festival of Vintage, which was held at York Racecourse. Myself and hubby bundled the kids in the Tango Wagon (our van) and drove up to York, van loaded with my petticoats, dresses and most importantly, my dungarees! Due to booking our hotel a tad too late, we ended up staying in Leeds, but it was well worth the extra driving! We arrived bright and early on the Saturday morning, with me chomping at the bit to get into the venue and get my hair done! So, straight upstairs to the lovely Bethany of The Vintage Beauty Parlour, armed with my favourite photo of my Nan taken during World War II;

The results were amazing! I wasn't expecting miracles, I'm currently in the process of growing my hair out from being undercut, so what Beth created was way beyond my expectations!

AND....for once, the hair lasted all day and all night, dancing and Jack Daniels included!

For more info about Beth and her Vintage Beauty Parlour, go to www.bethanyjanedavies.com and be sure to tell her where you heard about her!

So, after lots of browsing and buying at the 150 trade stalls and listening to some amazing live music, my little one and I joined in with a couple of the Make do and mend craft classes! We made 1940's style felt rose brooches with Tracey from Piperty and later in the day, we decoupaged little lampshades with fabric, both crafts have been used at home since, great fun! 

Saturday night was spent learning new-old dances and remembering my Northern Soul moves at the Vintage Dance! What an excellent evening, the cherry on the cake being an amazing steak pie and peas for mid evening sustenance! 

Sunday morning arrived, a slight hangover in it's wake, but, makeup was slapped on, hair rearranged into a pompadour and finished off with a scarf I had bought at the festival the day before, the result? Well, I'll let you judge...

Another few hours were spent rummaging through the amazing goodies on offer, a little bit of barn dancing with my mate Emma and checking out the amazing motors parked up outside! 

Sadly Saturday night caught up with all of us and we decided it was time to go home. It was, after all, a 3 hour trip, so I had to give in to the driver! Lol

That's all for now guys! Hope you enjoyed my first post! 

Massive huggles fellow vintage lovers

P xxx

Don't forget, if you need any Bandanas, go to www.bandanaheaven.co.uk