tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46499912614006768862024-03-19T04:42:46.202+00:00A Girl I KnowA lifestyle blog from fashion to baking to reviews and daytripsA Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-2640464773864810762016-05-01T22:41:00.002+01:002016-05-01T22:41:43.212+01:00A Day At The Lake Part 2<div style="text-align: justify;">
Saturday afternoon we were lucky enough to dodge the rain showers and bask in glorious sunshine at the cultural Rudyard Lake arts festival "A day at the lake".</div>
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As mentioned in my previous <a href="http://agirliknow.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/a-day-at-lake.html" target="_blank">post</a>, A Day At The Lake is a weekend celebrating 100 years at Rudyard Lake, Staffordshire.</div>
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As soon as we arrived we were greeted by the sight of a gigantic retro style helter skelter, swing boats and children (and even a few adults) having a go at hula hooping. As we carried on past the lake the mister spotted a real ale bar converted out of the back of a vintage van and couldn't resist a cheeky pint of chocolate stout, whilst I headed straight to the street food area. Here I was spoilt for choice and if you're a big foodie like I am, could have quite happily spent the whole day grazing. From paella to hog roast, pizza to crepes, to hot dogs, toast and popcorn! There's something for all ages.</div>
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After lunch we headed up to the treacle market, which had traveled over from Macclesfield. The marquee was filled with stalls selling locally produced artisan goods and vintage homeware. I'd like to give a special mention to <a href="https://bonkersclutterbucks.com/balloons-and-dioramas/" target="_blank">Bonkers Clutterbucks</a> and their unique, intricate dioramas. If you get a chance please check out their page</div>
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After the Treacle Market we grabbed a coffee and took in some of the performances. The jugglers and a live performance from Gaby Young & Other Animals were our favourite acts and judging by reactions certainly put a smile on everyone's faces. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the tightrope walk act but we heard it was very good!</div>
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All in all we really enjoyed the day. If you're planning on visiting the event I would recommend you check the timetable in case there's a particular act you'd like to see. We would have really liked to have seen the tightrope walk but we'd just missed it by an hour and the next show wasn't for another four hours. Also it's worth noting that although this is an outdoor event dogs are not permitted. As dog owners ourselves we found this a little disappointing, however with large crowds and lots of small children we can see why the decision was made. If you're planning on visiting we hope you enjoy A Day At The Lake as much as we did and we've got our fingers crossed the sun makes an appearance,</div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-36833037943254779612016-04-25T19:30:00.000+01:002016-04-25T19:30:24.837+01:00A Day At The Lake<div style="text-align: justify;">
A Day At The Lake is <b><i> </i></b>is a major outdoor event 30 April – 2 May 2016 taking place at Rudyard Lake, (near Leek on the Cheshire / Staffordshire
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What used to be known as a cultural destination back in the late 1800s up to 20,000 day trippers would descend upon Rudyard Lake to take in the spectacular outdoor arts of the age. </div>
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Now a sleepy beauty spot Rudyard Lake was
once known as “the Blackpool of the Potteries” and “the Geneva of the
UK” and was one of the first examples of mass daytripping to rural
beauty spots in the UK. We're lucky enough to live just a 5 minute drive from Rudyard Lake and
had no idea it was such a popular tourist destination of that time. </div>
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A Day At The Lake will include the recreation of the famous
“African Blondin” tightrope walk (drawing huge crowds just 30 years
after the abolition of slavery) and mark the other feats that took place
there including Captain Webb’s aquatic fete, fresh from swimming the
channel. <b>It was on a trip to this beauty spot that Kipling’s parents met and took inspiration for their future son’s name</b>. </div>
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It is the first event of this scale to be held at the lake for over 100 years and as a regular visitor to the lake I'm pretty excited about what's on offer</div>
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From dry land synchronised swimmers, tightrope walkers across the lake, real life mermaids, helter skelters and swingboats, street food, brass bands, story telling, row boats and upping sticks from Macclesfield, is the fantastic treacle market featuring crafts and vintage finds. There really is something for everyone and is set to be a great event for all the family.</div>
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So if you live in the area or even fancy a daytrip out this bank holiday weekend, a visit to the historic Rudyard Lake will be well worth a visit.</div>
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For more information about what's on visit <a href="http://www.dayatthelake.org.uk/" target="_blank">A Day At The Lake</a> and why not purchase your tickets online whilst you're there.</div>
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What are you up to this bank holiday weekend? Are you planning a daytrip somewhere or thinking of visiting Rudyard Lake? I would love to hear what you have planned.</div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-32432419337547939222016-02-15T19:20:00.000+00:002016-02-15T19:20:04.072+00:00Make Supermarket Flowers Look Gift Ready<div style="text-align: justify;">
There's nothing wrong with buying flowers from the supermarket. There's often a wide choice, they're guaranteed to last a while and usually come with plant food, which is a bonus BUT their biggest let down is the cellophane wrapping and those ugly giant stickers normally plastered all over them.</div>
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If you were giving these flowers to someone as a small gift re-wrapping them can definitely give them a bit more wow factor, not to mention they add that personal touch.</div>
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Start by removing the cellophane wrapping and any elastic bands that were keeping them together. Rearrange them into one bunch and once you're happy with the arrangement reuse one of the elastic bands to keep them in place. </div>
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Wrap the flowers in your chosen paper at a diagonal. I've chosen brown parcel paper as I always have some to hand but you could even use tissue paper. On this occasion I've held the paper in place with some coloured twine but you can use any ribbon, string or even lace that you may have lying around the house.</div>
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Overall I think the look is quick and easy to create yet effective and makes your gift a little bit special. You could even go one step further and hand print a design onto the paper.</div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-68404586023713000322016-02-12T19:10:00.002+00:002016-02-12T19:10:41.417+00:00Jar of Love<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well in case you've been living in a cave this past week you may have noticed Valentine's Day is just around the corner. No sooner have the retail store elves packed away the Christmas decorations and gifts they've hijacked Cupid and replaced them with chocolates, cards and roses. Yep here come the retail giants rubbing their hands in glee as we dash out to spend a fortune on items that have nearly doubled in price.</div>
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Don't get me wrong, I love Valentine's Day and who doesn't enjoy receiving presents and being showered with love? It seems just as we're getting over the expense of Christmas, we're pressured into buying gifts and going out for expensive meals when we might not normally chose to do so. There's nothing wrong with romance and showing your loved one how much you care but this doesn't have to be confined to one day of the year and it doesn't have to cost the earth!</div>
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Sometimes a well thought out present can be more than meaningful than an expensive bunch of roses. If you're looking for something a little different why not try making your present?</div>
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If you're stuck for ideas how about a jar filled with handwritten scrolls listing all the things you love about your partner? It will certainly put a smile on their face as they unravel each scroll and read all the lovely ways you appreciate them and will last longer than a bunch of roses!</div>
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What are you doing this Valentine's Day? Will you go all out with expensive gifts or maybe you boycott the whole thing? What's the most romantic thing you've ever done for Valentine's Day? Let me know, I'd love to hear.</div>
A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-88467542113567171582015-11-10T20:27:00.000+00:002015-11-13T18:55:12.512+00:00Baby Brain: Is it really a thing?<div style="text-align: justify;">
Baby brain, is it really a thing? Before I was pregnant I'd joke with my other pregnant friends if they'd forgotten something or were having a bit of a thick moment, that they had the mythical baby brain </div>
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Now that I'm pregnant the joke's on me because I'm certain I'm suffering from a serious case of it!</div>
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I can't tell you how many times I've had to be reminded of conversations I simply can't remember, or gone upstairs to get something but can't remember what. Once I made a cup of tea with cream instead of milk and sprayed deodorant under my arms after I'd put my top on!</div>
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Forgetfulness and confusion seems to be a running theme throughout this pregnancy and it appears I'm not alone with one mum I know comparing her memory to a fish!</div>
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So does baby brain actually really exist? After a quick google search the medical jury's out. Apparently there isn't enough supporting evidence that baby brain is an actual medical condition, with studies showing we did just as well as non-expecting women in various tests. However other studies show that a woman's brain changes during pregnancy in order to for them to be more in tune with their baby's needs after giving birth. Surely that's got to have some kind of effect on us.</div>
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So I guess whether baby brain medically exists or not, I know for certain I'm not quite as focused and switched on as usual. When you're preparing for the arrival of something so small and fragile that will turn your entire world upside down is it any wonder?<br />
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So what do you think? Does baby brain exist? </div>
A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-68635978870360772152015-11-06T19:30:00.000+00:002015-11-06T19:30:01.068+00:00Tinker and StitchOur lovely little town, Leek, is bursting with independent shops, bars and cafes. In fact it's so good it came runner up in The Telegraph high street awards in 2014, which was kind of a big deal. Over the years the town has really transformed itself and most of this is down to local business owners pulling together, arranging events and putting Leek back on the map.<br />
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One of the key events was the introduction of a new market on the first Sunday of every month. A Makers & Artisans market bursting with over 30 stalls of locally produced food and crafts. An opportunity to purchase something unique and original which hasn't been mass produced, not to mention an excellent way for new designers to showcase their goods.<br />
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I try and pop along each month as there's always something new to be found and as usual I wasn't disappointed. <br />
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A stall which really caught my eye was the curiously quirky <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TinkerAndStitch?ref=shopsection_shophome_leftnav" target="_blank">Tinker & Stitch</a>. Specialising in handmade apparel for little tinkers, shop owner Sarah Williams decided to start making baby clothes after having her little girl earlier this year. If you love a rainbow print, cloud, star, fox or unicorn, YES I SAID UNICORN then Tinker and Stitch's bright clothes are perfect for your babes. The clothes are super soft and I love the fact they're made from bright quirky fabric. In fact I kinda wished she did them in adult sizes too.<br />
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I can't wait until our baby is born and I can start buying cute stuff like this. Have you got a favourite shop for children's clothes?<br />
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<br style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-23900746295556668432015-11-05T17:25:00.000+00:002015-11-05T17:25:28.946+00:00Bloggers Challenge<div style="text-align: justify;">
What do you do when you're suffering from a bout of bloggers block? As you know I took a year off because life was, well just getting a little bit crazy. When I finally did get the time I needed to return to blogging I actually found it hard to get into the swing of things. I kept thinking of / seeing / doing / wearing things that would make great posts yet couldn't quite bring myself to sit down and write them!</div>
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When I saw <a href="http://www.rosalilium.com/2015/10/blog-every-day-november-2015/" target="_blank">Rosalilium </a>was challenging us to Write Every Day In November (BEDN) I took it as a sign! It was the kick up the backside I needed to help me get back my blogging mojo but could I really write a post every day? I only used to post once a week, twice at a push, thirty posts in thirty days is no easy feat but I like the idea of a challenge. The whole idea of BEDN is to help those bloggers who may be stuck in a rut, or want to connect with other likeminded bloggers. Topics are set for each day if you're stuck or you can write whatever you fancy.</div>
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So here I am on Day 5 feeling pretty proud that I've blogged more this week than I have in some months. It's not too late to take part in the challenge so if you fancy signing up just head over to Rosalilium's page and add your name to the google doc</div>
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Are you taking part in BEDN or have you taken part in a similar blogging challenge?</div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-27009866921417753682015-11-04T18:50:00.000+00:002015-11-04T18:50:00.592+00:00Life Through A Lens<div style="text-align: justify;">
The topic for today's BEDN (that's Blog Every Day in November incase you didn't know) is photography. What I love most about photography is the way you see the world differently. It's amazing how much more you appreciate things when looking through a viewfinder. The deep teal of victorian tiles, a close up of a flower, a skyline you may not necessarily have notice before. </div>
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One of my favourite photos I've taken is of my son, around 4 years ago. We were on holiday, the sun was going down and he was sitting on a rock looking out to sea. Although I couldn't see his face, his body language looked relaxed like he was deep in thought. I love the redness in the sky and the gentle waves lapping at the shore. This whole photo gives me a sense of calm</div>
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Are you a keen photographer? What's your proudest photo?A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-18950328551436524452015-11-03T21:08:00.000+00:002015-11-03T21:08:13.397+00:00Wedding Photography: Should You Invest?<div style="text-align: justify;">
Weddings, as you can probably imagine can be pretty expensive. Even with the strongest will in the world it's easy to see how a budget can spiral out of control. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and you want it to be perfect. Lets be realistic though, things are never going to be perfect, there's always something that will go wrong and as long as it's nothing too major, when it comes to the big day you won't even notice, or care!!</div>
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I loved every aspect of our wedding but one of the most important things to me was that we all had a good time. Lets face it my guests wont really care whether the flowers co-ordinate with the bridesmaids dresses, how many hours I spent decorating jars or if my tiara had the right amount of sparkle. They care about watching two people they're pretty fond of making that commitment to each other. Secondly they care about what the food's like and how much alcohol is on the table and thirdly they want to have some fun! Don't forget your guests are spending 8 hours of their time helping you celebrate. I often hear people saying 'it's your day, have it the way you want it' and to a certain extent I agree but remember it's not just about you! Your guests need to have a good time too.<br />
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The next most important thing to me is wedding photography. If you only spend your money on one thing please, please, please choose a good photographer. I've lost count of the times I've heard people say they're not too fussed about a photographer, or 'a family member's offered to take them for free'. If that's the case at the very least check out their work first. Just because someone has a dslr doesn't mean they know how to use it! Can they take photos without chopping peoples heads off or giving them evil red eye? Do they know how to compose a photo, make sure it's in focus and avoid random strangers or fire exit signs in the background? These are things you wont even notice on the day but you'll spot them as soon as you look at your photos.</div>
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Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. You spend days, weeks, months even years planning it. Do you think you'll be able to remember every minute of your day? You wont trust me, it goes by in a blink of an eye. Think you'll be able to remember all of it after 20 years? Not a chance! Sure you'll be able to remember some aspects but not from start to finish. Having a decent, professional photographer capturing your day means nothing will be missed.</div>
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My husband wasn't too keen on spending a lot of money on a decent photographer, he thought the money would be better spent elsewhere but it was the only thing I put my foot down about. In fact, I will openly admit he unleashed a bridezilla demon bride-to-be that I didn't know existed. I may have even whispered the words "If we don't have a decent wedding photographer then there will be no wedding". Yep, like I said, a total bridezilla on the subject. Eight weeks after we got married and sat down to look at our photos James will openly admit it was the best thing we did. They don't just capture you, they capture your friends and family and all the things you didn't see because you were so busy talking to everyone. They capture a special day that will never happen again. Looking at your photos helps bring back the memories and re-live that experience in a small way. </div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I'd like to credit these photos to </span><a href="http://www.stevebridgwoodphotography.co.uk/" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Steve Bridgwood Photography</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> and thank him for being such a massive part of our day. When he went home that night, after an eleven hour shift, his work wasn't done. He had hours of checking through hundreds of photos, finding the best ones and editing them. Wedding photographers really don't get enough credit for all their hard work on the day and after. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">So if you unsure whether to spend a large amount of your wedding budget on a decent wedding photographer, ask yourself this. In ten years time what will your flower arrangements look like? How many times will you have worn your wedding dress? Was that 20 minute journey in a classic car that memorable? What I'm trying to say is your wedding photos will last lifetime. They're all you have left of your special day, apart from each other I hope.</span></div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-74278317366422101722015-11-02T13:10:00.000+00:002015-11-02T13:10:00.362+00:00Leek and Potato Soup<div style="text-align: justify;">
For those of you who don't know me that well I'll let you into a not so secret, secret...I'm a terrible cook! Which I have to say is pretty frustrating when you're a real foodie like me. It's not for the want of trying either. I really do put the effort in but somehow the end product doesn't end up tasting or looking quite so, er desirable.</div>
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I really don't get it. I always follow the recipe step by step. Take for example the chocolate cake I made in August. I followed that recipe WORD FOR WORD and this was the end result! Shocking I know!</div>
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In my defence I would just like to say that a) the recipe didn't explain how much mixture to put in the tin and b) how the heck do you get the icing to stick to the cake without destroying half of it in the process!? On a positive note the cake actually tasted really nice and the five people who tried it lived to see another day.</div>
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And then there was the time I made pavlova. Note I said pavlova and not pizza as the below photo would lead you to believe.</div>
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Seriously , I have more chance of becoming a quantum physicist than I do a master chef. However, just occasionally miracles do happen when I'm in the kitchen and it seems only fair to share my culinary delights with those of you also lacking skills in the kitchen department. I know you're out there, show your faces!</div>
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As winter's approaching there's nothing a nicer than a warm hearty soup. My favourite has to be Leek and Potato soup and it's got to be the easiest soup to make, in the world!! Obviously I haven't put this to the test, if there are easier soups to make please feel free to comment below.</div>
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Leek and potato soup literally has 3 - 4 ingredients, 5 if you include seasoning, Is that technically an ingredient? Who knows, lets not ponder! When I make soup I always think it's nice to make a big batch so we can get a few lunches from it, you could even freeze some of it. So bear in mind these quantities are very generous!</div>
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8 leeks</div>
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Cut off the stringy white end of the leek, peel a couple of layers off, then cut off the dark green part and throw away. It feels like you've cut your leek in half and thrown it away, which seems like a waste but as far as I'm aware there's nothing else you do with that end of the leek! Again feel free to enlighten me, as we all know I'm no expert! </div>
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Slice the leeks around 2cm thick. Peel and chop the potatoes into quarters or smaller. Remember, the smaller they are the quicker they'll soften. Try to keep them roughly the same size so they cook through at the same time. Add some oil to a big saucepan, throw in the the leeks and potatoes, add a crushed garlic clove and some salt and pepper, put the lid on the pot and leave to sweat on a low heat. I always fret that the veg will stick to the pan, so I keep going back to give them a good stir. </div>
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After about 15 / 20 minutes I add some boiling water with a stock cube so that the veg really begins to boil down. Then just leave this simmering on a low heat until the leeks and potatoes have completely softened. Once you're happy the veg has completely cooked through, take off the heat and use a handheld blender to liquidise the soup. Add water depending on how thick or thin you like your soup.</div>
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So in a nutshell, peel and chop your veg, chuck in a pan to sweat, add some stock, boil down, liquidise and that's it! Easy as pie, except that's a ridiculous comment because making pastry is not easy to do, at least not for me anyway! They should change it to 'easy as eating pie'. That I can do!</div>
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So, are you a terrible cook? Do recipes baffle you? Have you got an easy recipe you'd like to share if so I'd love to hear from you! </div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-32882038192186205332015-11-01T19:30:00.000+00:002015-11-01T19:30:00.604+00:00Taking A Year Off<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ever feel like life is crashing down on top of you and there's no spare time to even breathe or think straight? That was pretty much me last year. Busy working for two very different companies which seemed to keep on expanding, whilst trying to plan a wedding and have a life, was like juggling without any hands. Eventually something had to give and as much as I enjoyed blogging a part of me was beginning to resent it. I had all these things I wanted to share but didn't have the time, not to mention every post I wrote seemed to be sponsored in some way. I guess I became a bit disillusioned with it all and blogging was beginning to feel like a chore, if you know what I mean? I guess that's when I knew it was time to have a break.</div>
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Too much of this...</div>
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And trying to plan this ...</div>
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Meant basically I felt like this...</div>
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Having some time away from my blog gave me the space I needed to concentrate on work and enjoy wedding planning. I was able to focus more on what was going on in my life instead of blogging about it and it definitely took the pressure off. Lets face it, there's only so much we can do and we're all guilty of taking on too much. Just lately though I've realised I've missed putting my thoughts down on "paper", reading other blogs etc. I'm glad I took the time out, I feel more refreshed and now love my little old blog again. Oh and with this little one on the way now is definitely a good time to catch up on some parent blogs</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-szC5sAoPTrw/VjI-fEluVLI/AAAAAAAAHOY/bql96XOWPTk/s1600/BABY%2BSCAN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-szC5sAoPTrw/VjI-fEluVLI/AAAAAAAAHOY/bql96XOWPTk/s640/BABY%2BSCAN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So how have you all been? What's been going on in your world. Have you ever felt like taking a step back and can you recommend any good parent and baby blogs?</div>
A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-23381257034953028002014-08-25T17:49:00.001+01:002014-08-25T17:49:14.381+01:00Sure As Eggs<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lately we've been trying to eat more healthily. We've been eating a lot more salad, grilled fish etc and also tried to cut down on carbs, which I have to say I'm finding difficult! Potatoes, rice, pasta, bread etc have for me, always been an essential part of every meal on a daily basis! Trying to cut them out has been really difficult! We've also started trying to eat more eggs. They're packed with protein, full of nutrition and amazingly versatile and to be honest we don't eat enough of them. In fact according to British Lion Eggs the limit on egg consumption has now been lifted as it's known the cholesterol they contain doesn't not have a significant effect on blood cholesterol. </div>
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We were recently sent this Severin EK3157 Egg Boiler, which was handy as we all know I'm pants in the kitchen! This electric egg boiler seemed like the foolproof way to achieve hard or soft boiled eggs and if I can work this little baby anyone can!</div>
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The electric egg boiler is pretty small and able to cook up to six eggs at a time with just one small container of water. Add the eggs, water and then set the timer to the required setting and leave it to do it's thing. It'll let you know when it's ready by beeping continuously.</div>
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The first egg I tried was on a medium setting which seemed to come out quite firm with a soft, but not runny, yolk </div>
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I tried cooking another egg on the lowest setting and this resulted in a much runnier yolk. Perfect for dippy egg and soldiers, except no carbs means no soldiers!</div>
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Whilst on the British Lions Egg website I noticed their sister site packed with 100s of recipes. I actually can't believe how many different meals you can make with eggs! In fact, I can't believe how versatile the simple omelette is! I'll definitely be trying out the carb free omelette fajitas and Liz McClarnon's Thai style stuffed omelette! Visit <a href="http://www.eggrecipes.co.uk/recipe-category/omelettes-frittatas-and-tortillas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omelette recipes</a> to see exactly what I'm on about and tell me which is your favourite!<br />
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*Sponsored post.A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-27915901054116287382014-07-08T16:15:00.000+01:002014-07-08T16:15:44.982+01:00The World Of Coco Design<div style="text-align: justify;">
Don't you just love it when you stumble across something new? This week I've discovered Oxfordshire / Stratford based company <a href="http://www.coco-design.co.uk/" target="_blank">Coco Design</a>. </div>
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With over 10 years in the interior design industry they decided to hang up their hard hats and create a home collection inspired by urban and rural settings. Their chosen colour palette means their collection will be at home almost anywhere. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Spring Chickens</span></div>
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Their collection is painstakingly created through a 3-stage process of sketches, hand cut stencils and finally hand painted with recycled emulsions. Nothing goes to waste. One of the many things I like about this company! Although this is a relatively precise process, each piece is unique with visible brush strokes an additional and intentional feature </div>
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Do you own any handcrafted, unique artwork?<br />
<br />A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-51352568644186165902014-07-06T10:00:00.000+01:002014-07-06T10:00:00.868+01:00Upcycle Furniture With Annie Sloan Chalk Paint <div style="text-align: justify;">
I've wanted to try Annie Sloan chalk paint for ages. If you haven't heard about this miracle paint here's a brief description from their website. </div>
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1. Chalk Paint® is the BEST paint for painting furniture by a long way </div>
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2. No need to prime or prepare </div>
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3. Extremely low VOC so it is good for the environment </div>
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4. You can use it on any surface, indoors and out (the outside of our shop was painted in it -- perfect!) </div>
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5. You can use the paint by diluting it with water to make a wash to show the wood grain </div>
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6. The colours are mixed intelligently and the website shows how you can adapt your colours for your use </div>
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7. It's a girls' paint, but boys can use it too </div>
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8. It's flexible so you can be creative and change your mind </div>
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9. It allows your walls to breathe so it is perfect for cottage walls </div>
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10. You can use it as an impasto (thickly) - leave the lid off to thicken </div>
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11. We've been making it since 1990 so it's tried and tested </div>
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The deciding point for me had to be No.2. No need to prime or prepare? Hmmm I was a little sceptical about that statement but with so many people raving about this product I was willing to put my doubts aside. For those of you who have ever painted furniture you'll know how much time goes into preparing and priming! It's a lot of effort to say the least! </div>
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I already had a project in mind. This 6 drawer chest of drawers which I'd picked up recently from a second hand shop. Although I quite liked the wood stain it was scratched and the colour didn't really go with the grey and purple tones in our bedroom.<br />
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After carefully removing the handles I set to work using a soft brush. The paint goes on thickly but a little really goes a long way. Handy considering the £18 price tag for a 1 litre tin. As recommended by the stockist we watered down the second coat before applying, which makes it a lot smoother to apply. </div>
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There are lots of finishes you can go for. Shabby chic, two tone, rustic, crackle effect, etc but in all honesty I prefer a smooth block colour finish to my furniture.
After allowing the paint to dry I rubbed in some clear wax. This protects the paintwork and adds a slight sheen to the overall finish - Note - the paintwork was touch dry in around 30 minutes but I waited until the following day before rubbing clear wax into the drawers.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y_OegcM4ZM/U7hO-yzkyzI/AAAAAAAABow/LUxRfo4OB_Q/s1600/agirliknow_blog_anniesloan_paloma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y_OegcM4ZM/U7hO-yzkyzI/AAAAAAAABow/LUxRfo4OB_Q/s1600/agirliknow_blog_anniesloan_paloma.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie Sloan - Paloma - Clear wax</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7dgksq_qFA/U7gjLYWNNpI/AAAAAAAABno/AOUuXbO4vkQ/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7dgksq_qFA/U7gjLYWNNpI/AAAAAAAABno/AOUuXbO4vkQ/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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My overall thoughts?</div>
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I have to say, I'm really pleased with the effect and although the paint was expensive I've still got well over 3/4 left in the tin! Not bad considering there are endless uses with this paint. With that in mind I decided to give a cheap terracotta plastic pot a coat.</div>
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However, if you are looking for the exact colour in the tin I would recommend giving your furniture a quick once over with a primer or some white-ish paint. It goes without saying that the colour underneath is bound to change the overall shade you end up with. If the shade isn't quite right don't worry, you can easily mix it with any other Annie Sloan paint to achieve the right shade.<br />
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Would I use this paint again?<br />
Most definitely! I love how versatile this paint is. You can water it down, mix it and literally paint any surface with it. It dries so quickly without any stickiness and hardly smells compared to other paints. The only problem I have with this paint is deciding which colour to get next!<br />
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Have you tried Annie Sloan Chalk Paint? Have you got a project in mind you're about to work on? I'd love to see what you're working on. You can tweet a photo of your project to me at <a href="https://twitter.com/agirliknow_?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@agirliknow</a></div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-43495357044766697692014-06-29T18:00:00.000+01:002014-06-29T18:00:02.768+01:00Contemporary Lamp Giveaway<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3gnALXS-iv0/U6mcauKYRcI/AAAAAAAABmk/AvuEBK6ELks/s1600/Outhereinteriors-blog-agirliknow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3gnALXS-iv0/U6mcauKYRcI/AAAAAAAABmk/AvuEBK6ELks/s1600/Outhereinteriors-blog-agirliknow.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's giveaway time! Everyone knows lighting is key to any room. There's nothing that can ruin the tone of your room more than a stark ceiling light; or worse, lighting so dim you feel as if you've reverted back to candlelight! To overcome this I'm a big fan of lamps. There's an abundance of them in our home. In fact, come to think of it there's four in our living room and I'm contemplating a fifth! You see great lighting can complete your room and set the scene or as some would say, 'um-bi-uhnce'.</div>
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Some of us aren't fortunate to have floods of natural light within our home which is where clever and decorative lighting comes to the rescue. Choosing the right lamp will complete your overall design scheme, just like the right pair of shoes would complete your outfit.</div>
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I've teamed up with Out There Interiors and giving away this large, white, contemporary table lamp to one lucky reader of A Girl I Know. This bold lamp will certainly make a statement in any hallway or lounge. In fact I'm a little bit jealous that I can't enter the giveaway myself!</div>
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If you haven't heard of Out There Interiors I would definitely recommend you take a look. Known for their quirky and quality assured designs, I love how they describe themselves as 'furniture people - not arrogant people' In fact I'm slightly obsessed with this Fuschia Pink French Chest of Drawers. Which would make a great feature in any room!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UIt4grXLzDs/U6qxp5kyWAI/AAAAAAAABnA/WSdDiUIAELs/s1600/file_216_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UIt4grXLzDs/U6qxp5kyWAI/AAAAAAAABnA/WSdDiUIAELs/s1600/file_216_1.jpg" height="640" width="483" /></a></div>
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Anyway, back to the giveaway in question! To be in with a chance of winning this oversized lamp worth £140 just enter via the rafflecopter form below. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8q8Qw8_C7RU/U6mNiidUt4I/AAAAAAAABmU/_h5DUHY3IH8/s1600/table-lamp-agirliknow-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8q8Qw8_C7RU/U6mNiidUt4I/AAAAAAAABmU/_h5DUHY3IH8/s1600/table-lamp-agirliknow-blog.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a id="rc-2fa6d210" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2fa6d210/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com123tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-88455103928348947062014-06-17T16:15:00.000+01:002014-06-17T16:15:00.885+01:00Favourite Finds At The Ideal Home Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the first time in 106 years (!) the iconic Ideal Home Show exhibited at Manchester's Eventcity. If you've visited the event at London's Earls Court, you'll know it's a pretty grand affair and a chance for many designers to exhibit new gadgets and concepts. Although the Manchester event wasn't perhaps as grand a scale as its London counterpart I didn't come away disappointed or drained! These shows can turn into an all day event and with so much to take in and with a lot of ground to cover, you can feel pretty tired from it all.</div>
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I managed to cover most of the show, although with eight dedicated sections I skipped the insanely long queue for the Ikea goody bag, which I'm a little bit gutted about! The main sections which interested me were the Interiors, Home Improvement and Show Home sections. With over 10 years in the property development industry and with a few show homes under my belt I was interested to see which design trends we'll be seeing more of.</div>
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Here are my Top Five Favourite Finds...</h3>
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1wall</h3>
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Although mural wallpaper isn't actually new this stand was crawling with visitors! I suspect the price has something to do with it as most of their wall murals were priced at £25. The one which really caught my eye was this comic book inspired wallpaper. It measures 1.58m x 2.32m however I would guess you can cut this down to size or buy more sheets for a larger area. This would be perfect in my sons room and see him well into his teenage years.</div>
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If comic books aren't your thing then other designs are available such as stunning cityscapes or brick effects. If you're looking for a feature point in your room or perhaps a subtle backdrop then I would highly recommend checking these guys out. Here's an added incentive with a discount code, GD2014.</div>
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Img: 1wall</div>
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MagPaint</h3>
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It does exactly what is says on the tin, it's a magnetic paint. The great thing about this company is that you can combine their paint with their sketch paint, thus creating a magnetic whiteboard anywhere you want! Home or office this ingenious paint is perfect for busy homes, children's rooms or to help you stay organised at work. I had a quick go on their board and I can tell you the magnetic strength is quite strong and more than capable of holding your paperwork etc to the wall. Check out their site for more technical details and range of products.</div>
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Jam Jar Lights</h3>
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These handmade, custom lights certainly caught my eye. They're not the kind of thing you'd find on the high street which is exactly how the designers of these quirky lamps want it. Their lighting is an eclectic mix of iconic Kilner jar lights to fabric cables and hanging pendants. If you're looking for something unique and handmade these lovely folk are perfect for you.</div>
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John Lewis 150 Years</h3>
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For those of you who live in a cave, John Lewis are currently celebrating 150 years in the business. I love the colour palette they're currently using to mark their anniversary. This room set, appropriately named The Anniversary Room, has been inspired by their heritage and uses a combination of retro prints and modern day living They've come a long way since 1864!</div>
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George Clarke</h3>
Of course I had to include the swoonworthy George Clarke in all this! Lovely bloke, incredibly tall and I managed to form at least one sentence without drooling. Winner!<br />
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So there you have it. My top 5 picks from the show. Did you manage to get to the Ideal Home Show this year?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">* Just so you know although I had courtesy tickets to the show all thoughts and favourite finds are my own!</span><br />
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<br />A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-65269040333481748872014-05-21T20:13:00.001+01:002014-05-21T20:14:41.106+01:00Spring Into Vintage<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last year I blogged <a href="http://agirliknow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/vintage-at-dome.html" target="_blank">here </a>about a vintage fair organised by one of my good friends over at <a href="http://www.vintagesuitcase.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Vintage Suitcase</a>. I love popping along to their fairs, not because I completely biased, ok maybe I am a little bit, but more so because the atmosphere is always amazing.</div>
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She doesn't just arrange a few stalls in fusty room. She hand picks the best venues to suit the needs of the traders, customers and sets a scene. A scene where Northern Soul, Motown and 60's hits are the backing track to this day, because going to a Vintage Suitcase event is like going on a daytrip. Except there's no need to pack your sandwiches because she's even got that covered by way of a pop up tearoom! After you've whiled away a few hours browsing the stalls and chatting to the ever-so-friendly traders, sit yourself down and enjoy some delicious homemade cake that's available.</div>
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What I love most about these events apart from the nostalgia and the buzz of finding a vintage gem, is the joy of stumbling across somebody new. A trader who specialises in something I haven't seen before. Last year it was <a href="http://www.mollyfelicitydesigns.com/" target="_blank">Molly Felicity Designs</a> and her photographic bunting. This year I was excited to discover two fabulous traders by the names of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lamplightdesignco" target="_blank">Lamplight Design</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peacocks-Pumpkins/151639548205334" target="_blank">Peacocks & Pumpkins</a></div>
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Lamplight Design specialise in handcrafted signs, amongst other things, however the signs were what really grabbed me. I could definitely imagine them somewhere at home or maybe at a vintage inspired wedding. In fact I'm fairly tempted to place an order however I'm not entirely sure I'll be able to restrain myself at just one sign!</div>
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Peacock & Pumpkins is run by textile magpie and artist Alison. Her handcrafted lampshades made from vintage fabrics really caught my eye. Not only are these beauties available to buy, you can also try making your own at one of Alison's workshops. Perfect if you're looking for something bespoke for your home.</div>
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I spent the rest of the day trying to resist the nostalgia there was on offer but I didn't exactly do a great job. In fact I left the fair to find the nearest cash machine just to I could carry on shopping! There were just too many temptations, as always, but I'm saving those for another post!</div>
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Just in case you've never been to a vintage fair, here's a few snaps from the day...</div>
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Oooh and did I mention it's not just me who thinks The Vintage Suitcase are pretty downright fabulous? It turns out a lot of other vintage seekers do too as they're up for <a href="http://nationalvintageawards.com/vote2014/" target="_blank">Breakthrough Business Award</a> at the National Vintage Awards!! If you've been to one of their events or you think you could happily spend the day mooching around their vintage fairs, why not pop over and give them a vote. They're two of the hardest working ladies I know who create these events in between full-time jobs and child rearing! That deserves a vote in itself!</div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-69724472841949688242014-04-28T21:18:00.001+01:002014-04-29T12:10:28.595+01:00The Ideal Home Show Goes North!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I used to love going to the Ideal Home Show at Earls Court and when I lived in London I'd go nearly every year. After moving up North I got out of the habit of going and it didn't seem like there was anything else in the area that was on the same scale, until now! This year, for the first time ever, the Ideal Home Show will be held at Manchester's Eventcity, 6th - 8th June.</div>
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If you've never heard of the Ideal Home Show this event can only be described as one of the most iconic home events in the UK. It's built its reputation on home innovation and has been a launch pad for numerous household products that we take for granted, such as the electric kettle or toaster. Know those items well? Yep me too! </div>
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Founded in 1908 the show was originally launched by the Daily Mail as a way of increasing it's marketing revenue but it soon established itself as a yearly social event. Going to the Ideal Home Show really is a day out. In fact for some people, they'll visit again the next day, it really is that large a scale!</div>
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In the 1920's visitors would have been awed by the full size 'Tudorbethan' houses that had been built or the full gardens which had been constructed. During 1957 visitors were treated to the first fitted kitchen to go on show. Whole villages were built throughout the 1970's and 1980's and by the 1990's up and coming architects were invited to enter competitions to have their innovative designs constructed at the show. You see it really is the show of all shows!</div>
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The event is usually split into seven show areas, which you can also read more about <a href="http://www.idealhomeshowmanchester.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>: -</div>
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Interiors</h4>
No house is complete with the finishing touches that make it a home. Here you'll find top brands and beautiful products to add those final details.<br />
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Home Improvements</h4>
Whether you are embarking on a huge transformation or just making a few changes, Ideal Home Improvements can provide you with everything you need for the job.<br />
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Browse the fantastic food stalls, try samples from across the world and find those culinary gems to make any dish even more delectable, all in Ideal Food.<br />
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Technology</h4>
Whether you are gadget savvy or just a beginner, there's something for everyone, from entertainment, gaming and household goods, to energy saving items that make your home eco friendly. Plus experts will be on hand to share their expertise and knowledge on gadgets and gizmos so you can equip your home with the latest technology.<br />
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Woman</h4>
Indulge and relax at the various beauty and cocktail bars, browse the latest products and pick up hints and tips on this seasons fashion trends.<br />
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Shopping</h4>
Here you’ll find a dazzling array of must-have items, perfect for styling your home or as gifts for friends and family that you simply won’t find on the high street.<br />
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Super Theatre</h4>
Representing each section of the show, the theatre will host talks and demonstrations from the nation's most loved home experts. With everything from gardening advice to renovation and planning tips, the theatre will be the ultimate place to pick up the tips and tricks to improve your home.<br />
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Plus, interior styling advice, technology know-how and even some of the nation's best chefs giving some culinary tips for your dinner parties at home.<br />
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We're also treated to a celebrity line and this year these six famous faces will be representing various sections.</div>
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So if you're looking to update your home or searching for the next up and coming product then this show really is for you. Oh and failing that there's always the champagne bar!!</div>
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Tickets for the show can be purchased <a href="http://ihsmanc.seetickets.com/tour/ideal-home-show" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> or why not enter my competition to see if you can win a pair first.</div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2e68d33/" id="rc-2e68d33" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-19074661481257815562014-04-17T19:46:00.000+01:002014-04-17T19:46:34.665+01:00Heating Just Got Clever<div style="text-align: justify;">
Technology is everywhere and over the last few years it's really evolved. Essentially, when it works correctly, it's there to make our life easier. </div>
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If someone had told me 10 years ago I'd be able to do the weekly shop from my phone, read the news, make video calls or even programme the Sky box, I'd have laughed in your face! My phone was for calls, texts and playing snake, my good friend. Technology has moved on and for that I'm grateful - although I do miss playing snake!</div>
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As a busy working mum I have a million things to remember. My phone is full of reminders, there's a lot of list making going on and post it notes are a daily feature in my life. You get the drift and I suspect I'm not alone. If I'm right then you're also probably the kind of person who comes home from work to realise you overrode the heating that morning and guess what? It's been on all day! As soon as you open the door your greeted by a blast of heat similar to that of a furnace and you mentally tot up how much 9 hours worth of heating will cost. A home that was empty I might add! You would cry however the air is so warm tears evaporate as soon as they reach the skins surface. If this is you then <a href="http://www.evohome.info/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Honeywell Evohome</a> could be the answer to both our prayers.</div>
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What Is Evohome?</h3>
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It's an intelligent heating system that controls the heating in your home, room-by-room, wirelessly. This means that for busy people like you and me, we can heat the rooms we use instead of the whole house, using a touch screen panel that connects to your internet. And guess what? There's even an app available on iphone and android! AMAZING!</div>
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This is perfect for busy homeowner whose plans constantly change on a day to day basis. Can you remember to change the settings on your timer everyday? I can't! Life is busy. Decided to work late one night? Re-programme your heating to switch on just before you arrive home. Woken up early to a frosty morning and realised you forgot to put the heating on? Switch it on using their smartphone app and hide under the duvet until it's warmed up!</div>
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Not only can we heat just the rooms we're using, we can control when they're heated whether we're at home or not. This could potentially save you 40% off your heating bill. With energy bills forever increasing perhaps this device is worth installing. Honeywell have a handy <a href="http://evohome.honeywelluk.com/plan.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">system planning tool </a>to help you figure out which rooms you'd like to install, how much it's going to cost but more importantly how much you're going to save. This tool is so simple I swear a 2 year could figure it out.</div>
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So if you're a busy person where one day varies from the next, perhaps Evohome is worth the investment.</div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-45325230001023589502014-04-11T13:00:00.000+01:002014-04-11T13:36:45.093+01:00We're On The Road To Somewhere<div style="text-align: justify;">
As you most probably know I'm a sucker for vintage homeware. I'm like a magpie, except instead of being drawn to something shiny, I'm drawn to old and quirky! I find it nearly impossible to walk past a charity shop or flea market without going in and I love upcycling some of my vintage finds. </div>
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Vintage clothes on the other hand is a different matter. Although I really appreciate vintage clothing, I find it quite difficult to find clothes that fit me properly. Shapes and sizing have really changed over the decades and vintage sizes usually tend to come up a lot bigger. This makes it trickier to find something when you're not even sure what size to go for. I can't tell you how many times I've come out of a changing room broken hearted because the garment was either too big or too small, and guess what? No other sizes available. Wahhhh.</div>
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Luckily for me there are fabulous shops such as Rivers And Roads, who specialise in vintage inspired fashion and they have plenty of sizes to go around!</div>
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<a href="http://riversandroads.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rivers And Roads</a> is a one person Manchester based outlet, who have made it their mission to find you quality fashion you'll want to keep forever. And they're right, because since they sent me this <a href="http://riversandroads.co.uk/products/the-swan-song-top" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Swan Song Top</a> it's the only thing I've wanted to wear! I'm really impressed with the quality of the shirt, the material is really thick and all the buttons are sewn on really well, possibly hand stitched, I'm not too sure. Either way the buttons don't appear to be going anywhere soon. I also love how the pleats on either side of the shirt are intentionally different widths. This brand have obviously paid attention to detail and I can't tell you how many compliments this shirt has received!</div>
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Shirt - c/o Rivers & Roads</div>
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Wide legged trousers - River Island</div>
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Black skinnies - Warehouse</div>
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Dolly shoes - New Look</div>
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As well as this rather awesome top, Rivers And Roads also have a whole other heap of vintage inspired clothes and accessories. Here are just a few of my favourites...<br />
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So, like what you've seen so far? I hope so because <a href="http://riversandroads.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rivers And Roads</a> are offering my readers (that's you) 15% off any purchase valid until the end of April. Just enter the discount code AGIRL2014 at the checkout. Happy shopping. x<br />
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-46839790621918572632014-04-03T09:30:00.000+01:002014-04-03T09:30:00.708+01:00Bespoke Wedding Stationery<div style="line-height: 21.299999237060547px; text-align: justify;">
If you follow me on Twitter and if you read <a href="http://agirliknow.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/my-wedding-scrapbook.html" target="_blank">this</a> recent blog post, you'll know I'm getting married.</div>
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Although I'd already got an idea of what kind of theme, etc we were going for, I wasn't prepared for the thousands of suppliers and choices that were available! There is every imaginable style going. It's daunting to say the least.</div>
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We'd been hunting for some wedding stationary for a while and hadn't been able to find anything we like on the high street, when<a href="http://www.paperthemes.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Paper Themes</a> offered us a chance to review their bespoke Save The Date cards. We actually weren't thinking of having Save The Date cards, as we're trying to keep costs down, but thought it would be a great way to trial their service. I have to say I'm really pleased with the quality and design and we'll most likely be ordering our wedding invitations from them! Winner! The cards and envelopes are quite thick and a really good quality and, although we didn't have to pay for them, the price seems reasonable at £1 each. I should also add the envelopes are self-adhesive, which is handy if you've got a lot of cards to send and our cards arrived really quickly! I don't know about you but once I order something I'm pretty impatient and want it straight away!<br />
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The have lots of styles available but their website is really easy to navigate and you can soon narrow down your search. <br />
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One of the other things I love about this company is that their invitations and stationery are designed and manufactured in the UK (Shipley, West Yorkshire to be precise), so it's good to know you're helping to support British manufacturing when you're ordering from them.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Our vintage style cards</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bespoke Save The Date cards</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: normal;">Bespoke Save The Date cards</span></div>
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Although Paper Themes specialise in <a href="http://www.paperthemes.co.uk/wedding-stationery/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bespoke wedding stationery</a>, they do so much more, including table decorations, wedding signs, balloons, cake accessories, DIY kits, personalised posters and wrapping paper as well as invites and cards for other special occasions such as baby showers, etc. In fact the list seems endless so you should probably go check Paper Themes out for their full range. They'll even send you some free samples!</div>
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Have you ever had any bespoke stationery printed?</div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-86416003614408730912014-03-27T10:00:00.000+00:002014-03-28T11:14:12.742+00:00Easy To Make Mother's Day Card<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every year I make my mum a homemade card. That's all she ever asks for and who am I to deny such a simple request! Except, the older you get the harder it is to think of something different to make. Lucky for me Pinterest and <a href="http://www.katgotthecream.com/what-kat-made/what-kat-made-easy-mothers-day-card/" target="_blank">Kat Got The Cream</a> are on hand to provide me with an endless source of ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Such as this cute as a button design made by Kat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kat's Design</span></h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AB9rBuT2WbA/UzMyN2kR7sI/AAAAAAAABZk/xtweqT3WQ2o/s1600/cards-1024x673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AB9rBuT2WbA/UzMyN2kR7sI/AAAAAAAABZk/xtweqT3WQ2o/s1600/cards-1024x673.jpg" height="420" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
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My Card</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XzeQWZkMOhc/UzMz-eGRakI/AAAAAAAABZw/cQMdScXXttA/s1600/mothersdaycard_agirliknow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XzeQWZkMOhc/UzMz-eGRakI/AAAAAAAABZw/cQMdScXXttA/s1600/mothersdaycard_agirliknow.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Here's one I made earlier!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A big thank you to Kat for posting this very easy to make Mother's Day card. I had all the items in stock so didn't need to buy anything extra and I have to say this is probably one of the best cards over the 32 I've ever made!!! You really don't want to see my earlier attempts, trust me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, this is what you'll need to make the card: -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Card stock or in my case cartridge paper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">PVA glue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Buttons</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fine black pen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pencil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rubber</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Excuse the dark photo! More daylight hours needed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As Kat says, it's pretty self-explanatory as to what you do. I had a go at placing the buttons in different places first and then drawing the stems and leaves in pencil. I've actually gone for straight stems and Orla Kiely style leaves but it's really up to you how you draw them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And there you have it! A very stylish, if I do say so myself, homemade Mother's Day card and something fun you can make with the kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you prefer homemade cards? There's something so much more personal about them don't you think?</span></div>
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A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-21650490425487537912014-03-26T13:31:00.001+00:002014-03-26T16:16:14.308+00:00Home Is In The North <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love to support independent designers and shops but realised lately I don't blog about them as often as I tweet about them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although your big high street stores seemingly create a lot of jobs which in turn supports the economy, what about the little guys? The ones who work endlessly designing those perfect pieces only to watch a high street store then produce the same thing for a fraction of cost and sell for half the price. Being the little guy can be tough but they do what they do because they're passionate about their work!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti super stores. They're convenient, you know what you're getting and they're usually affordable, but it's good to mix it up. And, by shopping in an independent outlet you're not only supporting that business owner, you're helping to support all the other businesses they deal with. In fact if we all spent a fiver a week with our local independent shops we'd put £4.1 million per year back into our local economy! That's something to think about!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am I going somewhere with this? Yes! Because I've been invited to the <a href="http://www.eventsbythesocialbutterfly.com/events/home-north/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Home Is In The North</a> event at Halle.St Peters, Manchester. A unique collective of independent designer-makers and boutique homeware brands from across the North. An opportunity for 30 independent talented designers, who specialise in modernising traditional crafts, to exhibit their work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inspired by the industrial North exhibitors range from surface pattern designers, ceramics, textiles, upcycled lighting and illustrators.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cg78GbX2yf0/UzLUhdqcskI/AAAAAAAABY0/v22bb8Hhi1o/s1600/Charlotte-Nash.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cg78GbX2yf0/UzLUhdqcskI/AAAAAAAABY0/v22bb8Hhi1o/s1600/Charlotte-Nash.jpeg" height="400" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charlotte Nash</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zKbLvGKacEM/UzLU52GoEmI/AAAAAAAABY8/sHfPCX-KdSg/s1600/Honeybee-Cush-NatLauraEllen-400x266.jpg" height="265" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natalie Laura Ellen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rThmfy69hBA/UzLVLU8-L-I/AAAAAAAABZI/k4miWFQNPEw/s1600/Annabel-Perrin-400x545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rThmfy69hBA/UzLVLU8-L-I/AAAAAAAABZI/k4miWFQNPEw/s1600/Annabel-Perrin-400x545.jpg" height="400" width="292" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Annabel Perrin</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1fRxTImT5I/UzLVLGyhWpI/AAAAAAAABZE/VmcZFfBm1Sw/s1600/Ink-Inc-400x533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1fRxTImT5I/UzLVLGyhWpI/AAAAAAAABZE/VmcZFfBm1Sw/s1600/Ink-Inc-400x533.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ink Inc</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As well as the chance to meet with inspirational designers there are also interactive workshops, demos and seminars taking place throughout the day. High<span style="font-size: small;">lights include a ‘Create
Your Own Art’ workshop with interiors blogger, Kimberley Hughes of </span><a href="http://www.swoonworthy.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">Swoonworthy</a><span style="font-size: small;">,
who will also be sharing her trend predictions for 2014 during a 30 minute
seminar. I really looking forward to seeing what trends she </span>forecasts<span style="font-size: small;"> and hearing her tips on decorating on a small budget.</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How does this help independent designers?</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.eventsbythesocialbutterfly.com/events/home-north/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Home Is In The North</a> </span>will also be launching ‘The Future
Design Showcase’ in partnership with Manchester Craft and Design Centre, concept store Fig & Sparrow and online market place What I
Always Wanted. The area has been created
as a support network to give emerging artists and makers the unique opportunity
to meet potential stockists in person and seek advice and guidance about
building their brand.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BC5b1GawJTk/UzF9JSXFQ4I/AAAAAAAABYg/Ykox9oAIQfU/s1600/Independent+Designers_Agirliknow_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BC5b1GawJTk/UzF9JSXFQ4I/AAAAAAAABYg/Ykox9oAIQfU/s1600/Independent+Designers_Agirliknow_blog.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stella Photography</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you live in the North and would like to support some homegrown talent and independent businesses why not pop along on Saturday 26th April, 11 - 4pm. </span></div>
A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-13980605647053766942014-03-18T18:40:00.000+00:002014-03-18T18:40:19.667+00:00Take A Bow - Win £50<div style="text-align: justify;">
And so, the end is near...well I guess all good things come to an end and my time on the <a href="http://www.askherfriends.com/competitions/mothers-day-bloggers-panel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AHF Bloggers Panel</a> is up! We could call this my swansong! Sob sob, pass the tissues...</div>
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It seems only right this is my last panel, because this months theme is Mother's Day. I'm even more excited than usual for Mother's Day because it just so happens to fall on my birthday! This doesn't happen often. In fact this will be the second time it's happened in my *whispers* 32 years! And yes, I did google it just to be sure! </div>
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So, here's my gift guide: -</div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Din Text Pro Regular', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">1. </span>Eye Spy Wallet by Kate Garey<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Din Text Pro Regular', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Din Text Pro Regular', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">2. </span>Confectionary Grey Silk Bracelet by Ella Georgia<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Din Text Pro Regular', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Din Text Pro Regular', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">3. </span>Dozen Literary Paper Roses by Bookish England<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Din Text Pro Regular', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Din Text Pro Regular', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">4. </span>A Mother’s Love Print by Wink Design<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Din Text Pro Regular', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">5. </span>Cake In a Can by The Food Ministry<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Din Text Pro Regular', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pf4PHJURtvs/UyQOYIIEHlI/AAAAAAAABV8/aZ-c0Yo2FyY/s1600/AskHerFriends_mothersday_agirliknow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pf4PHJURtvs/UyQOYIIEHlI/AAAAAAAABV8/aZ-c0Yo2FyY/s1600/AskHerFriends_mothersday_agirliknow.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eye Spy Wallet - Kate Garey, Silk Bracelet - Ella Georgia, Paper Rose Bouquet - Bookish England</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother's Love Print - Wink Design, Cake In A Can - Food Ministry</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1091532825"></span>Like my gifts? Fancy winning something from Ask Her Friends? Me too! If you win, then I win, so just pop over to their site and enter <a href="http://www.askherfriends.com/competitions/mothers-day-bloggers-panel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. It's so easy and there's a gazillion ways to enter! It would be the icing on a very lovely cake if we won : ) </div>
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P.S</div>
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Before I go I just wanted to say big thank you to all the team at Ask Her Friends. They really an awesome lot and love a good chat over on Twitter. </div>
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<br />A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649991261400676886.post-16669586966277441282014-03-17T17:04:00.000+00:002014-03-17T17:05:50.597+00:00Loving Lately<br />
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I've always had a thing for wallpaper, the quirkier the print the better. Although accessories are key to any room, wallpaper can make or break it.</div>
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This latest design, Folie, by <a href="http://www.cole-and-son.com/en/collection-284/" target="_blank">Cole & Son</a> is inspired by statues, follies and architecture found within French landscaped gardens. I'd say this print is definitely a bold statement in any room! It's one you either love or hate.</div>
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I'd keep everything else in this room fairly neutral like these accessories from <a href="http://www.miafleur.com/" target="_blank">Mia Fleur</a>, although I'd probably have to add something mustard. I've got a thing about the colour mustard at the moment!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9NET9Ughdso/UycdIRZd6rI/AAAAAAAABXM/Dhxq3AaK3G8/s1600/folie-home_agirliknow_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9NET9Ughdso/UycdIRZd6rI/AAAAAAAABXM/Dhxq3AaK3G8/s1600/folie-home_agirliknow_blog.jpg" height="522" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Folie - Cole & Son</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vK0es6GM5vc/Uyck4ciU06I/AAAAAAAABXo/rvt_CMbHhn8/s1600/grey_chesterfield_agirliknow_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vK0es6GM5vc/Uyck4ciU06I/AAAAAAAABXo/rvt_CMbHhn8/s1600/grey_chesterfield_agirliknow_blog.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chesterfield - Sylvester Oxford, Accessories - Mia Fleur</td></tr>
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So what do you think about this wallpaper. Love it or hate it? What kind of style would you go for?A Girl I Knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16698724485978013665noreply@blogger.com9