. hAppy fridAy .

. 1. isn't this just the cUtest image . spOtted on instagram @julisel . via @littlegatherer .

. 2 . beautiful detailing from Caramel Baby & Child . 

      { from the next aUtumn cOllection shown at Playtime Paris } .

. 3 . brighten up your littleOnes lunchtime with these lovely notes from tiny me .

. 4 . spOtted on pinterest . this super stylish kIds room .

      { from the fabulous Ferm Living } .

. 5 . handmade knitted toys that are very lOvely . from the aptly named Lauvely .

. 6 . crUshing on all this amazing crochet . just my cup of tea !

      { by the very talented Maitha @yarnii } .

. 7 . and . i think i would very much like to take tea with Katie @thevintagehousethatcould .

. 8 . my thought for this week . 

      { via Chroma Stationery . a colourful new start-up . all made in the uK } .

. 9 . and . a little more stationery lOve . in mint & gold .

. & . finally . it's official . what i've always suspected . pOrridge is the key to hAppiness .

      { as revealed by Shake Up Your Wake Up during this weeks Breakfast Week } .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. i lOve you to the mOon . & . back .

how has the first mOnth of the year been for you ? has it dragged or has it flown by ?  

for me it has flown by . what i thought would be a quietish month has turned out to be a little busier . all in a good way though . 

i am still feeling in between seasons at the moment . i'm still lOving being able to wrap up in winter woollies . & . light my candles as soon as dusk starts to fall . it's the perfect excuse to curl up with a book { already nearly three books down out of my reading goal of twenty four } . the perfect weather for porridge for breakfast & soup for supper . 

but then . i'm also looking forward to spring . to those lighter warmer mornings that make it easier to get out for my early morning run . to start shopping for new floral frocks . & . trying out fresh new salad recipes for lunch . 

and in the midst of this changing of seasons fEbruary comes along . full of lOve . & . hearts . & . flowers . & . general lOveliness . 

. i lOve you to the moOn and back .

. fEbruary 2016 .

. fEbruary 2016 .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. { another } . ten terrifically delightful finds from tOp drAwer .

the one thing i love about this time of year is the promise of all the new things to come . i long for the sales to disappear from the shelves . & . for all the lovely new pretty things to appear . those fresh . bright . spring collections .

so whilst my head is still a little full of fall & winter . and i'm busy putting the finishing touches to those ranges & looking forward to seeing lots of exciting new ranges at bUbble next week . it was lovely to take a little step into the spring that will come before it . with a visit to tOp drAwer last week .

it was lovely to re-visit the show i first popped along to last september . lovely to see the brands i loved first time around once again . as well as discovering some new ones . & . with the addition of a new food emporium i think we might have to plan to spend a little longer there next time around !

{ 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 }

p.s. i think you can tell from my choice of ten this time around that my mind is in house & kitchen renovation / decorating mode !

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy fridAy .

. 1 . a beautiful new cOllection for Winter'16 by Aristocrat Kids .

       { with amazingly beautiful hand painted floral prints } .

. 2 . super sweet susu little dolls handmade by snuggly ugly . 

. 3 . pretty pastel wooden treats with a sparkle of sequins @lucasgirlslove .

       { uber cute camera by Behind the Trees } .

. 4 . this illustration by Beatrice Cerocchi sums me up perfectly at the moment . 

       gazing lOngingly at the sweet treats i'm choosing not to eat !

. 5 . spOtted sO many cacti at TopDrawer .

       { these gorgeous concrete planters from Fox & Ramona are perfect for them } .

. 6 . and . lOving this cactus playmat by Henry & Pop .

. 7 . there is something sO mesmerising about this Vivarium by Juan Fontanive .

. 8 . thought for today . & . it is !

. 9 . even though spring is appearing in the stores i'm still lUsting after cosy knits .

       { especially these lOvely eco knits from babaa knitwear } .

. & . finally . a new sOup recipe for next week . 

        { winter vegetable minestrone with lentils by a Beautiful Plate . & . isn't it just ? } .

. have a cOsy dAy .

. this year .

the end of last year . & . the beginning of this year has felt a little odd . i went into 2015 with such clear goals & ambitions . which i listed in my ' resolutions ' post from last january . reading that post back i feel a mixture of pride . & . a feeling of uncertainty . pride in that i feel i did my best for five out of those six . uncertainty because i don't feel my goals are so clear for this year . 

but . maybe that isn't a bad thing . maybe my goals & ambitions for this year are a little more ambiguous . maybe they will evolve as the year progresses . & . i like to think of all those resolutions from last year ticking along;  the healthy eating & the running have become an intrinsic part of my everyday . the travelling & the reading have become things i actively look for opportunities to do more of, things that i plan for, not things that happen accidentally . being more creative is something i still want to make a little bit more time for . but i'm getting there .

and . the one thing that didn't get ticked off the list ? 

lily&Bloom . the shop . * whispers * . { still on the list ! } .

well . it would be on the list . if there was a list . this year we're scrapping the list . the list has morphed into something more like a vision board . to be added to as & when . to grow . { or shrink } . as the year progresses .

if last year was all about clear goals & focus . this year takes a more laissez faire attitude . & . that's ok . 

. 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 .

. lets just see where the year takes me .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy fridAy .

. 1.  wIshing the only clouds around were ones on cute tees . 

       { like this one by Fred & Noah via Not on The High Street } . 

. 2 . bUt i think we'll need our winter woolies for a little longer yet .

. 3 . a sweet tribute to the stAr mAn .

       { spotted on Instagram by @theresaholden } . 

. 4 . jUst one of the many faces of the great David Bowie .

. 5 . and . a lOvely quote by the lOvely Alan Rickman .

       { so sad to lose such talent so relatively young } .

. 6 . it's raining blooms & flowers at Oui Oui Oui studio .

. 7 . crUshing on this beautiful painterly floral fabric .

. 8 . thought for today .

       { and pOp over here to listen to the track } .

. 9 . some more beautiful blooms to brighten up your day from HeartHandmadeUk .

. & . finally . still sugar-free . & . drooling over this breakfast of sweet potato hash .

        { super easy recipe found over on The Modern Proper } .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. pAntone cOlour { s } of 2016 .

when pantone announced their colour { s } of the year for 2016 i think a shudder must have passed through anyone who has ever been involved in putting together a newborn layette range . the memories of the eternal search for that perfect pale pink . { not too blue . not too yellow . not too bright . not too dull } . & . that perfect pale blue . { not too red . not too green . not too bright . not too dull } . & . just when you thought you'd found that perfect shade . replicated onto the interlock & velour that were the key fabrics in those ranges it never failed to . well . just disappoint . 

and so . pantone's choice of rose quartz { P13-1520 } & serenity { P15-3919 } . colours that represent the gender stereotypes of boys & girls like no other . 

. 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 .

have we grown to love them yet ?

see lOts more pale pink & bashful blue on my pInterest bOard

{ rose quartz . & . serenity }

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy fridAy .

. 1 . wishing for a trip to uSa to shop the lOvely Oh Joy collection at Target .

. 2 . or a little nearer home . this lOvely bOutique in Brussels .

       { the very lovely Pipelettes and Galopins . spotted on Milk Magazine } .

. 3 . the wry take on jAnuary by Dawn over on Pop-I-Cok .

. 4 . already looking ahead to next Autumn's fashions over on Smudgetikka . 

       { and . loving this gorgeous dress from Dutch label Haas }

. 5 . learning to crochet has been on my tO-dO list for far too many years .

. 6 . maybe a small purchase of the beautiful book " Vintage Style Crochet " my help ?

       { spotted on Instagram via @redagape_styleanddesign }

. 7 . i have a feeling that Lauren of Thimble & Bobbin would get on well with Dawn !

. 8 . on a slightly more positive note . a thought for today . 

       { and . for the year ahead } .

. 9 . this year why not forget resolutions . and . start a vision board instead . 

. & . finally . it's going to be a sugar-free january . 

       { so indulging in colourful soups & salads & savoury yumminess }

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hEllo jAnuary . and sO the Adventure bEgins .

i think i have enjoyed the r&r of christmAs a little too much . this jAnuary calendar is perhaps a little embarrassingly late in being posted on the blog . am i forgiven ?

in honesty . as lovely as christmAs is . this year i'm more than a little glad to get back to something resembling a normal routine . & . to start looking forward to what this year may bring . 

i'll save my reflections on last year & hopes for this year for another post . & . keeping this somewhat brief . will just leave you in peace & quiet with your first calendars for 2016 . 

. jAnuary 2016 .

. jAnuary 2016 .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy nEw yeAr .

{ and so the adventure begins }

. hAppy nEw yeAr .