Oh my goodness I have a job!

I have been a stay at home Mum for nearly 11 years since I had my son. Since then I've had several jobs on and off that have fitted in with the children. I've worked in Sainsburys on the deli counter (evenings), data entry from home, internet researcher etc and currently work once a week on a Monday doing a market research type job in a large supermarket. I have to say though, I detest retail as I find it mind-numbingly boring and felt very much taken for granted.

I haven't worked "properly" since my daughter was born 8 years ago as she was born with a heart condition and went through a very tough time during her first two years. I never felt I could leave her with anyone, so always worked when my husband was at home, but knew none of these jobs would suit me long term.

Recently a job was advertised at my children's school, for a playworker in the after school club which will be set up next term. I let the deadline pass as my confidence is about zero after being at home for so long. I was then told by one of the management committee that if I changed my mind they would welcome a late application from me as no-one suitable had applied. Luckily my friend is a playworker in the breakfast club so she helped me with the interview questions, which my daughter (age nearly 8) tested me on!

And I got the job!

You wont envy the hours though, 3.15pm to 6.15pm Monday to Friday!

Next stop, classroom assistant!

The non existent dresser, latest thrifty finds and a makeover

As some of you know, the dresser I bought on Ebay didn't materialise. The guy was working, so told me he would leave the dresser on his drive outside his garage and I was to post the money through his letter box. When I arrived the dresser was nowhere to be seen, I was fuming as I had driven 15 miles to get there. When I got home I called him on his mobile, he was away working and gobsmacked that the dresser had gone. My friends on the shabby chic forum thought it was all a bit strange, I don't know what to think!



I've been busy on the thrifting front lately. Here is the start of my Pyrex snowflake collection. Each item was around £1 in charity and junk shops. This pattern also comes in other colours, I've seen it in red with white snowflakes which would look lovely at Christmas mixed with the black and white I think. I am also collecting the June Rose pattern but only have one tiny plate in that.

I bought these two pretty plates for my daughter's birthday tea next month. She is having an old fashioned tea party and a sleepover although finding friends that are available is going to be a bit difficult as most of them are on holiday! I've already bought some jelly moulds and a glass cake stand for the birthday cake and will get some bunting to hang on the gazebo in the garden. Hope it's not raining!

And finally, a little makeover. We will be decorating my daughter's bedroom next month when the kids are away in Ireland with their grandparents. I bought this mirror for 50p in the Salvation Army shop and painted it using Plastikote spray paint. I know, so untrendy that I didnt use F&B or something but this really was easy and cream is cream wherever you buy it from! It is shown here in the bathroom, but will go in her room when it has been decorated.

Sorry the lighting is bad on the photos, it has been so grey and wet here but typically now that I am writing this the sun has come out and the sky is blue.

I have been tagged to show the view from my kitchen window, I haven't forgotten and will do that once we have pruned the bushes and the sun is shining. It all looks a bit overgrown at the moment as we aren't that good at keeping it tidy!

My new Ebay purchase

For a while now, I've wanted a dresser. Once when I was away, my husband bought a flat packed pine apothecary style chest of drawers for the dining room. It was a waste of money, the drawer fronts keep falling off and it looks ugly! So I decided to buy a solid pine dresser on Ebay and I would paint it, surely much better than what we have already. Last night I won this little beauty and I may not even have to paint it. All for a bargainous £30!

I collect it on Friday so will show you it in situ and nicely dressed in another post.

Recent finds

These are my recent charity shop and car boot finds. My favourite item is the jug which cost £2 in a charity shop. The cake stand was £1 at a car boot sale and the candle sticks 20p each. I'm collecting glass candle sticks of different shapes and sizes to put on my mantlepiece, inspiration taken from several well known blogs! I've started collecting vintage glasses, these two were only 25p each, will be great for a shot of sloe gin in the winter!

I also collect vintage children's books, Ladybird books and Enid Blyton mainly but anything 1950's that catches my eye too. I will have to show you those and my vintage linens another time, when I've worked out how to put another photo in the same post!

New Beginning

We will soon be decorating several rooms in our house and I'm trying to persuade my husband that vintage/shabby style is the way forward. He is resisting greatly.

We have just finished wallpapering our bathroom. It's a long story but the bathroom has been in progress for a very long time. After decorating our son's room we got new motivation and wallpapered above the bathroom tiles to finish the room. I wanted a vintage bevelled mirror and found a bargain on Ebay. My DH told me he hates them but I went ahead anyway and it was hanging in the bathroom when he got home from work. He said it was really nice and suited the room. Later on whilst trying to adjust the height of the mirror, he dropped it on the bathroom floor and took a chunk out of the mirror! The very same day that I brought the mirror home!

He's now trying to make it up to me big style, and it just happens to be my birthday next week too!