New year.

Well hello friends. Remember me?!

 

Yep, I'm still here.

 

 I know, I haven't posted for what seems an age but I am still blogging. sometimes you just need a little break, know what I mean?

 

We have had the most wonderful Christmas. I don't want the festive season to end but then that brings me to the subject of this post. New year. 2013.

 

I love a new year. A time for reflection. Fresh starts. New projects.

 

I have so many exciting things I want to do this year. For me and for my family. I intend to make the best of 2013

 

I won't bore you will too many details as I want to blog about them in the new year but may I take the opportunity to wish everyone a prosperous, positive,inspiring, healthy and happy 2013.

 

Let your hearts be light.

 

 

See you next year!

 

Lauren x

 

Birthday weekend.

It has been a good weekend. 

My mum and I spent Saturday afternoon browsing a vintage fair and the Charity shops, we drank pumpkin lattes and ate cake. 

It was our birthday treat.

 We found this Ercol dresser, that comes with a plate stand shelving attachment and just had to buy! I have one in my lounge (slightly different shape pattern on the cupboards) but how could I resist. I still don't know whether to keep or to sell. 

To have two would be greedy! 

But its AMAZING right? 

I think I will have people fighting over this. Especially with the stunning plate stand. 

This weekends top find!

And my Ercol sideboard. 

We got a few jobs done around the house. Little finishing touches that make such a difference. Like putting out blankets, putting up pictures and curtains etc. 

We went pumpkin picking. We got our pumpkin from a local grower near to where we live.

 I think its so important to support local farmers and I love local produce. 

Look at those pumpkins!

Yep, its feeling very Autumnal in our house right now.

And with the first frost of the Autumn this morning it has been a weekend of serious cosiness. 

I'm off to light some candles, bath the kids and get ready for x factor and downton. 

Enjoy your Sunday friends.

Lauren x

Homemaking over the weekend.

I am so looking to this weekend. I have booked Saturday off work, as a little birthday treat, and I am going to spend the whole weekend at home with my little family. 

I want to do some home making. 

Preparing the house for the coming cold months.

 Getting ready for the cosy days and dark nights. I want to layer all the beds with blankets and extra cushions. Finish some of the half started jobs. Mosey round the bootsale before the sun has even risen.  A slow cooked lunch on Sunday and some quality time with the children and my husband. 

Ahhh blissful.

I love being at home with my family. Making our little retreat a happy home with a good soul. 

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What are you all doing this weekend?

Lauren x

October bliss.

October.

 

I love October.

 

Cosy nights. Birthday girls. Slow cooked food. Crunchy leaves. The smell of bonfire's in the air. Dark, starry nights. Pumpkin pie and hot coffee. All hallows eve. The glow from a candle. New tights. Scary books. Long hot baths. Harvest festival. Apple picking. Misty morning's.

 

A time to slow down before the Christmas season begins.

 

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Lauren x

 

 

 

 

Back to the books.

Just a super duper quick hello. I hope you are all well, happy and feeling healthy.

I know I have been seriously lacking on the blog front of late.

Apologies.

 

We have all been very preoccupied in the Hodges household the past three weeks. Lots of pain in the bum situations but it seems we are nearing the end of them. YAY!

There has been lots going on. I won't bore you all with the details as I hate to focus on the rubbish things and want focus on one amazing thing that did happen this week.

 

I am officially a student. A BA honours English literature student.

 

After almost 15 years of dreaming of studying literature I have taken the plunge. All I have ever wanted to do is read and write. I was all set to study my A levels and go to university but then things happened and I lost my way a little. Now 10 years on, a husband, three babies and a mortgage later I have decided to follow my heart. And here I am. A student.

 

I am literally skipping hoops right now.

 

I have chosen to study through the open university as I can juggle my very busy life and family around study. The course looks fab and I am currently reading the play Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe in preparation.

 

I am little excited right now. Can you tell?

 

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It is incredibly liberating to take a dream and turn it into a reality.

 

 Life is short and life is

precious.

 Don't sit around worrying putting things off.

Take heed and do something you want. Not because you must. Do something you desire.

 

It is pretty amazing.

 

 

Lauren x

 

 

 

Home is where the heart is.

It has been one week and one day since we moved into our beloved home. 

The home we have agonised over for two and a half years. Two and a half years of collecting furniture, salvaging items and attempting to completely renovate the whole house on a budget of £5000. And we have done it!

 It really has been a labour of love and from the minute we moved our last box of possessions into the house it was home. We are settled, happy. Absolutely loving the fresh air. The rural backdrop. The retro theme. We have been doing lots of walking, playing in the garden, picking blackberries. Eating lots of home cooked food and just enjoying every second of being a family. 

Home is where the heart is. 

I really want to get some professional shots of the house to share with you all but right now things are so hectic here that these phone ones will have to do. I hope you get a feel for the house. 

There is still lots to do. But they are all a work in progress. 

I still want a dog, a few chickens and a veggie patch.  I might have to wait a bit longer for these though ;) 

Thanks for popping by to have a peek at our new home. We hope you like!

Lauren x

The big MOVE.

Hello! it has been a bit crazy busy over here. Moving is quite stressful no? 

But boy am I happy. The whole family has worked so hard and our little retro dream has finally become a reality. 

I promise to blog in full and talk a whole lot more about the renovation and how we did/what we bought but for now I just wanted to say hello and share a few sneaky peek pictures. 

The whole house is like stepping back in time and it suits us, as a family down to a t. We have literally given up our lives for this house and it has been worth every second. You can feel the warm glow it radiates as you walk through the door. The children love being there. We love bring there. 

I think making a peaceful, happy home to live in helps shape a content family. We can be very content here. 

Happy doesn't cover how I am feeling right now. 

Speak soon. Have a happy week.

Lauren x

Weekend in the sunshine.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend? We have had the best one of the summer so far. With the Olympic closing ceremony, which may I add was amazing, family fun, yummy BBQ and meteor shower watching (I saw just one but that was enough for me!) it has been pretty good. 

 We made the most of spending time outside in the sunshine, making sure the children got plenty of vitamin d. I feel incredibly relaxed for all the lazing around, it feels good to store some of that lazy afternoon basking before the school term starts again in a few weeks. 

We also spotted our first Conker! Poppy will be keeping a close eye on that one. Can you see it in the picture?

And of course we, well my wonderful husband, spent some time at the house. He has been laying the floor in the lounge. It looks so good. I've got a cracker of a husband. He can pretty much put his hand to anything, I am seriously considering hiring him out ;) 

I just had to put some of the kitchen accessories out. The turquoise/orange colour scheme is like a dream come true for me.

Here's to a productive, happy week. 

Lauren x