My name's Leah, and I'm a candleaholic

Last night I was sorting through some cleaning supplies and came across one or two candles and air fresheners... I think I might have a problem!

Bathroom refit- check!

Ta da! Here it is, pictures of our very new and definitely improved bathroom. The IT guy has done such a good job and my Dad's help was really appreciated! For us it was all about adding a bath and updating the overall look of the bathroom, whilst still trying to maximise on space.

We (the royal 'we' of course- my only contribution was to keep the workers well fed and watered!) took out the shower unit and installed a new compact bath. It's only 20cm smaller than a standard bath but in a small bathroom it really makes a difference!

The floor and wall tiles were both courtesy of B&Q and my Dad's trade discount card and I think the white tiles really help to give the illusion of space.

We were able to move the far wall back by about 12cm so that was great for adding more space. The previous owner had done some very odd DIY in there so it turned out to be as much about fixing all of his little oddities as well as modernising.

We're really pleased with the new sink- partly because it's not enclosed in a chunky, ugly cabinet and partly because it's not made of plastic!

The tall cabinet was one of our best ideas I think. We didn't have much space for storage so we thought a tall, skinny cabinet was the way to go. This one from Ikea is great, it's only about 20cm wide but it's 6ft high so we can fit lots in it.

Blooper- The IT guy put the mirror a little too high for me so I can only see the top half of my face in it. Never mind, that's what tippy toes are for!

As with any good DIY project, we went a little over budget and a little over schedule but it was all worth it in the end.

And finally, you may be interested (and grossed out) to learn that I had a sickness bug at the beginning of the week, so I have well and truly 'christened' our new bathroom!

A very jolly holiday

I felt Christmassy in November, but it slowly ebbed away with every DIY noise that could be heard from our bathroom. We've gone 7 days over the schedule that we devised but at last, the final day has arrived. Can I get a hurray?
Jobs left to do- seal the bath side panel, screw the blind back up at the window, screw the toilet roll holder back onto the wall and grout the last few tiles behind the sink. Ta dah!
I'll post some pictures when it's all done- hopefully I'll be able to take them tonight!

I'm trying to feel Christmassy again, because the big day is only 9 days away, so I thought I'd share with you some snaps of our decorated house.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!

I had to leave out a few of the lower branches so that it would fit nicely into a corner, but it's worked real well. Do you like our snowflake star? It was so tricky finding a pure white tree topper that we liked!

These were our favourite additions to the tree ornaments this year- a his and hers gingerbread couple!

The IT guy chose this pretty angel in the shop when we were picking out our decorations 

I've had this gingerbread house for a few years now, I bought it from Woolworths (which doesn't even exist anymore) when I was younger and I've got it out every Christmas since

These were printables that I found online and I framed them using plain silver frames from the pound shop. I love how they help me remember what's really important about Christmas- carols, being merry and joyful and the birth of Jesus

Our advent calendars.
This year the IT guy has filled mine with slips of paper telling the Christmas story in daily installments. I've filled his with yummy chocolates and some activities like 'tonight we will watch a Chrsitmas movie and enjoy a lovely hot chocolate'

Well what do you know? It worked and I feel Chrsitmassy again!
Merry Christmas everyone!

We are family!

A month or so ago we had a studio session to get some up-to-date family photographs. The last time we did this was about six years ago so the family has changed a lot since then! We've gained two babies, lost an other-half and gained two other-halves!
Here are a few of the proofs, they still need touching up of course!

Everyone

The kids 'beating up' their Uncle Marc 

Mr and Mrs IT guy 

I'm quite pleased with the photo's that we got out of the session, though in true female style there were only a few pictures of myself that I didn't cringe over!

"The fellow who owns his own home is always just coming out of a hardware store"

The guy who said this was called Frank McKinney (Kin) Hubbard and he was born in 1868. I don't really know what life was like in the 1800's, but I certainly know that this is true now! There's always some project or another that needs doing around the home or garden.


This week we've turned our house upside down for a much anticipated bathroom refit. After quite a few months collecting taps, a sink and other bathroom bits in our garage, the time had come for them to make their way into the house. Cue a talented Dad and a willing husband!

Before I was born my parents would move from house to house doing home improvements (often living in rubble for several months) and selling the properties for a small profit. After they'd done this 13 times in 15 years they moved to the house I've known since childhood, and by this time my Dad had acquired a lot of experience and expertise in all things DIY.

The tiles came off the walls (goodbye 80's tiles!) and the shower cubicle was dismantled (so long leaky shower!) The cabinet came off the wall (laters caravan cabinet!) and the sink came out of it's chunky cupboard home (hello extra space!)
This is the point where I switch to the future tense, because everything else is still in progress!

We've taken delivery of a shiny new 1500mm bath (standard sized baths are 1700mm) and an extending screen so we can have both a bath and a shower. We also have a new sink and pedestal and a set of mixer taps for the sink and bath (the IT guy doesn't like that I leave both the hot and cold water running while I'm washing my face and feels that mixer taps are the way to address my temperature preference issues) =)
I just couldn't resist buying this celebratory decoration for the new bathroom... we've never had a bath before!



So yes, the dust may be driving me up the wall and yes, the protective sheeting on the carpets is tripping me up a few times a day and yes, using the shower at my office is pretty much THE most inconvenient thing ever- but the bathroom is coming along really nicely and it's going to look great!
Grand reveal pictures soon!

Recharging my batteries

Yesterday I had a very cheeky, very lovely day off work. A few weeks ago I was feeling a little overwhelmed by work and a few other things so I booked a midweek break for the next convenient opportunity.

You might think that I did as little as possible on my extra day off- not so my friends! Visiting teaching in the morning, wrapped the IT guy's Christmas presents, a spot of laundry, decorating some of my homemade jams to give at Christmas and a quick clean around the house (and when I say quick, I mean quick, because next week we're having a new bathroom fitted complete with new floor and wall tiles so I can imagine that it's going to get a bit messy!)

Not bad huh! And I had dinner on the table a mere 10 minutes after the IT guy got home from work- thanks to my trusty slowcooker. I'm ready for my housewife pinny now.



This might all sound like a day of work to some, but to me, utter bliss. I felt rejuvenated and ready to face the world once more.
My one regret is that I didn't get chance to make a pie in my pretty new pie dish. Don't you just love it?
Maybe one day I'll choose a piece of kitchen or homeware that isn't green, just to feel daring.


Can anyone reccommend a good recipe for a savoury pie that I could attempt?