My Spring wishlist for the home

We've lived here nearly two years now and I'm desperate to start adding the little touches to make it more homely. Our living room has been decorated 19 months now and we still just have the wires having out of the wall for new wall lights. Willow's room has been decorated nearly a year and she still doesn't have a light in there! Don't get me wrong there's still big purchases I want like a new sofa but for now there are smaller things we can add that will hopefully make it look a little more finished.

1. Wall lights for the living room -  As I mentioned before it's been a long time since we had wall lights in the living room. I'm just so picky about finding something that doesn't completely match our ceiling light but still compliments it. I think these glass ones will look nice but in all black, at least then they'll work with our wire lampshade.  2. Light fitting for Willow's bedroom - It's taken me a long time to find a light fitting for Willow's room that I really like. I stumbled across a home instagram account (@thehomethatjomade) and was weeks deep into her profile, I can quite easily scroll through home accounts for hours, then I came across the feather light shade. Did a quick google and found one not too big from B&Q that will look so pretty in Willow's room. 3. Rug for living room - The one thing I've wanted ever since we had the wood floor put down in the living room. I did a poll on my Instagram story between two patterned rugs that I was trying to choose between. I definitely want something with a bit of a pattern just so if it's dirty the pattern will hide it a bit better than if it were one solid colour. But part of me still wasn't sold on either of them.  4. A shelf for Willow's bedroom - Willow got so many beautiful bits from her Christening back in September and I've just had nowhere to display them. She's only really got her window ledge, but I hate when they look cluttered from the outside, so I'd like a shelf, or maybe two, to go just above her chest of drawers. I could picture a white shelf with wooden brackets but was really struggling to find what I wanted, and let me tell you, browsing shelves online in boring! I've settled on the Ikea Ekby Valtar/Ekby Laiva shelf but I'm going to stain or paint the shelf part white (I'll consult Dad on what's best!) 5. Rug for Willow's room - There's a bit of a theme for Willow's bedroom going on but I just want her to have a lovely little space with personalised touches. She's had a throw since she was a baby that we've always used as a playmat on the floor, it's really thick like a rug, although it was much thicker until I washed it on a hot setting. It's currently on the floor in her bedroom but it's too big and it just slides around so I want a smaller to make the floor a little cosier to play on. I had visions of layering a pink rectangular rug with a fluffy cream one but then I saw this circular spotty one on the H&M website and thought it was cute.
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My favourite iPhone apps

So I upgraded to the iPhone 6 yesterday and I thought I'd share the first five apps I downloaded before the app store decided to stop working today (I'm starting to get the shakes at not being able check the new arrivals on the H&M app). 

1) Instagram came first, naturally. Out of all the social media's, this one's the top dog in my eyes. I. Am. Obsessed. One of my favourite accounts is courtneybabyccino. She posts so many beautiful photos of her family of six and their London life. I don't think I could go a day without checking Instagram, materialistic I know, but that's the sad world we live in.

2. Second came Facebook, because well it's Facebook.

3. Evernote was next, because I feel the need to constantly be making lists, or checking lists for everything. I have a list for blog posts, homeware I want to buy and all our bills, along with about a million others at the moment.

4. My favourite photo editing app has to be Afterlight. I've not used anything else for a long while, and I especially love that I can make my own filters with the Fusion option. I only wish there was the option to create collages and then I'd be a really happy bunny.

5. Everything I do on ebay now I do on my phone. I had a load of listings finishing on there tonight so obviously needed to check on them. I find it just so much quicker and easier to create new listings on the app than it is on the website nowadays.

Closely followed by... Twitter, Youtube and Halifax. And then H&M when it actually decides to work. What are you're favourite apps? Any goodies I should download?

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Things I love to buy, but don't need

Is it sad that I buy myself flowers often on a weekly basis? They end up on the shopping list every week because I can't bear to not have at least one bunch around the house. At the moment I favour daffodils, but I'm holding out a couple more months until it's peony season.  

I placed an order for new bedding for the spare room a few weeks ago and I'm not one bit guilty about the five cushions I ordered. Excessive, maybe, but just look how pretty they all are. Needless to say I have a bit of a thing for bedding. I quite often have to have a quiet word with myself in the middle of Primark that I don't need a set of bedding with pineapples on it.

Rings are something I love love love to buy but in fact rarely wear. I only buy cheap ones from Primark or H&M, but I always forget to put them on or just don't like wearing them for work incase I ruin them. 

My love for stripes is no secret but I just can't help myself. A breton stripe is just a timeless classic and just gravitate towards them. This little H&M number is my current favourite.

I've got that many trinkets and candles now that I've actually started to tissue wrap some away in boxes and get them out on rotation. Put it this way, I definitely need more shelf space in more than one room.

I've got a drawer full of empty notebooks in my office, yet if I find another I like I can't stop myself. One person does not need 10 notebooks, I need to remind myself this from time to time. I absolutely love this Martha Stewart one from Staples.

  

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The lazy girls guide to fit

I'm slowly transitioning from lazy to lunges, and when I say slowly, I mean slowly. I find it so hard this time of year to find the motivation to exercise when all I want to do when I finish work is go home and wrap up in layers of cosy clothes. Here's a few of my tips to bear in mind.

Start small There's no point going straight in like a bull in a china shop with a 10k run or the heaviest weights. Start small, keep it simple even if it just means doing a 30 ab or squat challenge. It's definitely worth watching tutorials online just to check that your technique is right. You don't want a set back with an injury before you've even started.

Don't expect miracles overnight Similar to above, don't expect to be running marathons after a week of working out. And you won't get abs overnight either (I know this disappointment). Change takes time but even after a few weeks I've noticed improvements in my stamina and strength.

Get the right kit I find that since I started wearing the right clothes and had the right equipment I felt the part more and didn't mind getting changed into my gym gear. I absolutely love the H&M sports wear, it's the only place I buy from. Also if you intend on working out from home like I do, I'd recommend getting a work out mat. Mine was something silly like £2 from Primark.

Find what suits you I still struggle now with running and that's completely my own fault. I've never been a runner and don't stick to a regular routine so can't complain when I make no changes. My Dad on the other hand runs, swims and cycles every other day, he puts me to shame! I prefer a workout DVD or a Yoga session, try out different things and you'll find what suits you, but be sure to switch it up every so often because once your body gets used to the same workout you stop seeing the benefits.

Favourite fitness places online

Yoga with Adriene

Fit Girl Code

Blogilates

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Things I've Been Loving #2

Lilac - My colour crush of the new season. I've got my eye on so many lilac pieces at the moment. This pretty skirt is from River Island and Rimmel's Mary Mary Quite Contrary nail polish is one of my favourites too. I'm kicking myself about not getting this New Look top when they had my size either!

Tray tables - Mum bought me these little tables for Christmas and they're my favourite little addition to my living room at the moment. The best part? They were only £9.99 each from Home Bargains.

Pink lips - They've been a favourite for a while, and the brighter the better. I've realised I'm definitely more of a pink lip kinda girl over a red lip. I find that red lips require a flawless face which my skin is most certainly not. 

Blue Crosley player - This little beauty is my favourite thing in a long time. At the minute it's propped up on one of my tray tables but I want to buy the Hemnes bedside table from IKEA for it, then I can prop all my records up underneath.

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The Sunday Post: Sunny Sunday

It's been my first week back at work properly since the whole Christmas and New Year shabang and I'm feeling quite ready to get back into things good and proper. It's been slow and steady week, and I've ticked hardly anything off my to do list (at work and at home - woops!). 

It was a beautifully sunny morning today. I sat on my windowsill reading in just my jumper and knickers. Boo spent the morning, and afternoon, snoozing on top of my Missguided parcel and we did not much else. They're my favourite day of the week Sundays and I always feel a little thankful when I check the rota and see I'm in on a Saturday instead. 

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The Sunday Post: I'm feeling 22

Olivia Burton watch

Pandora December birthstone ring

I must say I had a smashing birthday, and the best decision I made was booking the whole week off work. I've been out for family meals, ice skating, shopping in Birmingham and rounded the week off with cocktails and dancing last night. Back to work tomorrow.

I was spoilt rotten on my birthday, Mum and Dad bought me a ticket to see Olly Murs in April, Dan bought me an Olivia Burton watch and my sisters bought me a pandora ring. Not to mention all the money from family members that made a beeline for my savings account for my trip to New York later this year. I didn't take many photos (too busy having fun!).

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A letter to my fourteen year old self

Dear me, Let's start by saying Happy Birthday! In all honesty I can't even remember my fourteenth birthday, but I'm sure whatever you did it was great. You're 22 today and still scared shitless about your future because you still don't know what you want to do, but you'll get there in the end. In a few years you'll fall in love with New York City and never quite shake that off. But why should you? I've become the dreamer in the Pritchard family, and i'll be damned if we don't chase those dreams! 
Promise to always be yourself, even if it means you are a bit of a loner. You don't need a Jane Norman carrier bag for your PE kit or Topshop 'school trousers' just to fit in with everyone else. I know you like your own company and you'll still be that way at 22, but that's totally okay. You've got your family and you're happy so that's all that matters. People will always have their opinions of you no matter who you are and what you do.
The difference between me and you is confidence. You're quiet and find certain groups in school intimidating, but you'll come into your own eventually. Just don't forget to use your fists if you need to - people still won't believe you ended up in a fight in the PE changing rooms. Nowadays though, you'll happily take to the dance floor on our own even if you look like a fool.
Oh and one last thing, never settle for being second best when you know you deserve to be first. Life is far too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.
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Bullring Blogger Snippets

I went along to the Bullring Blogger Christmas event on Wednesday evening, it was a lovely evening catching up with a few people and meeting some new ones. I snapped some bits that jumped out at me, The Selfridges personalised gifts and the beautiful Tom Ford Lips and Boys lipstick in the shade Patrick. I also had my hair done by the lovely Ricky from the Umberto Giannini salon in Selfridges, I didn't get a shot of the finished look but damn those curls were beauties. Just look how long my hair has got! Also I can't not mention the Umberto Giannini hairspray. Oh my god it smells heavenly!

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Places to visit: 888,246 Poppies

I've wanted to visit the poppy display at the Tower of London since it popped up in August. Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red is it's official name (I googled it) and if you get chance to see it then do. It was breathtakingly beautiful. The area around the moat was so busy, but so eerily quiet at the same time. I felt an awful sense of pride when in London on Saturday, poppies were everywhere, I even saw a dog with one on his collar. It's comforting to know that 100 years on, people still appreciate everything the wars heroes did and still do to this day.

The poppies are set to be dismantled tomorrow and sent away to their new owners, but part of the installation is staying put until the end of November and then it is being moved to the Imperial War Museum. A once in a lifetime opportunity I guess. 

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The Sunday Post: A quick stop in Bristol

I popped to Bristol to visit my brother on Friday with Mum and my sisters. I apologize for all the leaves and general strange photos, it's just that the leaves have only just dropped in Bristol and it was absolutely beautiful! It was like a summers day on Friday, I ditched my coat and strolled around Bristol city centre in just my little leather dress.

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