It was the last day of November

Hi all!
Here we are...December tomorrow. Where has this year gone?!
Since my last post, I finally finished the order for ten cakestands for the shop, we've been for a date at the German Market, I had a few red cups from Starbucks and I've put my christmas tree up! Yup! I've never done that before December but this year I have felt so christmassy a lot earlier and just couldn't resist! Looking forward to making for decorations to put up!

Last year we moved into our home the second week of December so we got a little behind with starting advent. We wanted to make it a tradition to create each other an advent calender rather than buy one so this year that's exactly what we are doing! I have no idea what Sam has planned but I know what I am doing for him. I'm going to try and document it on the blog, firstly because I like to document, secondly because it will make me do the things I plan to do and thirdly to share it with you because if you have a spouse or partner it will be nice to do something different for advent either this year or next for each other! I can't say much at the moment because the Mr will read this, all will be revealed tomorrow! Apologies in advance for the blog post spam!

P.s. we're going to see Mumford & Sons next week! I can't wait!

x



Baddesley Clinton & joyful hearts

Hello to you on this wintery afternoon! It's been raining leaves all day outside of my window. I'm enjoying a day off, drinking plenty of tea and snuggling in a chunky cable knit.

After a busy but fun week at work I had a couple of days off to go on my annual trip to the arts & crafts show at the NEC, Birmingham. It's kind of my disneyland. :o)
I've stocked up for the year and have lots of projects to get through and share with you on the way. Hoping to do some DIY sessions to inspire you to get into handmaking your own things too. Such fun!
With crafting in mind, this week the management at work asked me to design and make TEN cakestands for their two stores and we'll be collaborating on a few more things once they have been done. I couldn't be more excited and grateful for this opportunity and to grow my business. Things are ticking along very nicely indeed.

To celebrate but also because it was long overdue we had a date night last Friday and it was the first time I tried a french martini. Scrummy. (vanilla vodka, raspberry liqueur, pineapple juice & lemon). A scallop starter and venison main later (yea, we went a bit all out!) we went home.
Saturday was just as fun. We thought we'd flex a bit of plastic - ummm...ok just our National Trust membership cards!! and went to Baddesley Clinton for the day. They have beautiful grounds to walk in & we had a ton of fun taking photos! I love spending time with this guy!

 

Unfortunately, I have not enjoyed a red cup yet, we need an excuse to go into town in order to find the nearest Starbucks BUT the German Market arrives on Thursday so we're planning a few spontaneous evening trips to fill our tummies with treats galore! It's definitely feeling like christmas! I think I'm going to start decorating the house much sooner this year to get me fired up to do more christmassy projects and cooking!

Happy Tuesday, friends! Xo

katie: dress & coat - asos, faux fur neck snood - next
sam: shirt - asos, jumper - monsoon (they have a men's outlet in bicester), coat - rocha john rocha

'Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle'

Here goes...
I wondered whether to talk about this on the blog as I don't want anything on here to become any kind of rant or be negative, I mean, who wants to hear that? but this blog for me is like an online journal. I hope to look back in years to come at the things I've done, achieved, fought through, cried and laughed over. Since I've occasionally blogged about my job over the last few months I see it only fit to share some of what's happened this last month.

You might know that I found my 'dream job' recently. I did say that and honestly I feel like a fool for feeling that. It might have been but it wasn't. I worked with someone who constantly criticised, made fun of my faith, stripped me of my self belief and quite frankly made it really difficult to wake up in the morning and go to work.
I felt it was an unsafe, unhealthy environment to work in and as I struggled and prayed about whether to stay and fight it or just leave, the decision was taken out of my hands and I was dismissed from work for unknown reasons. After the initial shock a rush of relief quickly flooded over me and I could not be happier to be set free from that place of work.

In my determination to find another job quickly so that it wasn't just my husband supporting us I applied for another job that had suddenly come up that a friend told me about; another bakery job in the village I wanted to work in and a job I had applied for two years previously but they weren't recruiting. To cut a long story short, within a week of being dismissed I landed a new position! I work front of house and am also on cupcake decorating duty at this place!

It truly has been a dream! I am totally doing what I love everyday and my management team are incredible. They are so supportive, encouraging and open to my ideas, designs and creativeness. I feel respected and valued and I feel that there is so much room to grow as a person and in my career. I couldn't be happier right now and with Sam absolutely loving his job too we are one pretty joyful household!
I know God has had his hand on us. Through all the heartache and questions I have always known He would provide for us and provide for us He did.

To top off my excitement for this new season the German Market arrives in 2 weeks, the red cups are available in Starbucks, we finished our marathon of James Bond and watched Skyfall (uh-mazing, by the way!) and we booked in a date night for next week! Yes, we have to book in date nights, busy busy schedules!

Right, I'm off to sleep with a smile on my face! Xo

P.s. HAPPY 27TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO MY MOST INCREDIBLE PARENTS! I LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH!

A long weekend in Brighton

A few weeks ago we spent a long weekend with some special friends at their new home just outside of Brighton. It was so good to see them again and it was like they had never left Birmingham.
The nice thing about taking this trip is that Sam has become more open to taking long spontaneous weekend trips a bit further afield. That's the great thing about living where we live - there are so many places to visit only a few hours away at the most.

They live in a really sweet, leafy village but can still travel into Brighton which has a beautiful beach and lots of alternative, vintage shops and cafes.
We enjoyed a long spontaneous hill walk on saturday afternoon in new shoes (not the best idea, but if its spontaneous that's what happens!) then jam doughnut & marmalade & amaretto ice cream on the beach on a lovely sunny sunday afternoon. It was so nice to get away and explore a new place. We'll definitely be going back!
I wish I'd taken more photos but sometimes you just have to enjoy and take in the moments instead of being behind a camera. Next time...eh!?

Xx

Spread a little love and light

We had never seen Downton Abbey *shock horror!* until recently when a friend lent us series 1&2! We have been hooked every evening for the last three weeks catching up and watching episode after episode. I must tell you though that there are only 7-8 episodes per series if you think it sounds a bit extreme!
Well, we watched last year's christmas special tonight and will now be catching up on the current series on the tele at the moment. Serious commitment...or too much time on our hands. Whatever, it's AMAZING!
This is inbetween watching all the James Bond movies - Sam insists that we have to watch all 22 movies before Skyfall comes out at the end of October. We're currently on No.16.  *sigh*

Anyway, you all know we go to church; we also lead a smallgroup on a Thursday in our home. This week was particularly incredible. Our friend was in charge of organising it, we were given a time to meet and a restaurant to meet in. After getting a drink we were given our 'mission' to complete. Each of us were to write notes to a complete stranger and slip a bit of cash inside (whatever we felt was right to give). After sealing our envelopes we wrote on the front 'please open me'...
...now, here's the fun part! We were to go into a supermarket and drop the 'gifts' into someone's shopping basket or trolley without being seen (scary, huh?!). There were around 20 of us all armed with envelopes. We split up and each found someone to BLESS. The atmosphere was totally insane. Within minutes we could hear whispers of 'have you seen all these envelopes?', 'where are they coming from?', 'what should we do?'. Supermarket workers were gathered in groups discussing how weird it was, security guards were looking for suspects, customers were confused and there I was 'browsing' the magazine rack watching all this unfold! Adrenaline running wild!
Who knows what effect we had on people that night!? We certainly caused a stir, I know that much, and in faith I believe the gifts went to the right people.

How will you change someone's life today? I dare you to do something a little out of your comfort zone today and see what happens!

Hello Monday

...and happy October!
It's raining (again) but I've got a steak and ale pie on the go. YUM! The husbs has been after one for weeks so I finally caved and made one. Not sure how its going to taste, I only had casserole steak so hoping it won't be too tough to chew.

I like today. Mom came over and we went out for BLTs, tea and chatter. Love having her so close and available. More momma time please!

There has been a lot going on this last week or so which I'll share with you some other time but for now here is something I made a few weeks ago. There was a problem with dispatch when I ordered the frame so I had to get this done super fast and therefore Mr Poursain had to help me out!

I've got a whole lot of house and home magazines to look through and a whole lot of dreaming up ideas to do so I'll leave you with these pictures of the wall that is inside our gated area where we park our car. It just struck me yesterday with how beautiful it was, and although they are edited pictures off the iphone, the colours and true to life. Mesmerising, I'd say.

Xx

Etsy update

It's Fridaaaay!
I'm totally loving September. It's one of my favourite months. Apart from the fact that it's been raining nearly constantly I'm enjoying the weather. There is nothing better than it being chilly & wet outside and inside is toasty warm. It's the season of sweet treats, blankets, hats, scarves, gloves and thick socks.
Anyway, I've FINALLY updated the shop with some new items. Check it out!

HAPPY SHOPPING!