Do you remember when.....

I recently came across the idea of a memory jar on Pinterest and decided I'd make one for the New Year. It's such a lovely but simple way of recording all of your memories, the idea being that on New Years Eve you pull the notes out of the jar and read them out! What a conversation starter they'd be! A memory jar is my new tradition starting with 2012!

The top two pictures are from Pinterest and the bottom one is of a jar, I bought from TKMaxx for £5. It looks quite small but in actual fact is at least 18 inches in height. I intend to collect a lot of memories!

I'm going to tie some ribbon around the neck of the jar and hang a luggage tag and some charms from the ribbon. I will also cut up squares of paper in various colours and textures and put them in a box along with pens/pencils next to the jar ready for anyone, including visitors, to add a memory of the day, the only rule being that the days date is written on the paper! I also think it will add variety to include any tickets or programmes or receipts with a note on them too.

What a sweet way to keep memories alive!

Words on Wednesday

(link)

Merry Christmas

love from

We Heart It

The Pampered Sparrow

xxxxxxx

Words on Wednesday

Deck the halls.....

Bright idea! 
I've had these ideas pinned to one of my boards on Pinterest just waiting to be used. Christmas seems like the perfect excuse.

Flower pom poms are sometimes seen at weddings and summer parties but can easily be adapted for Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations.

Images from Pinterest 

left & right

I also came across these amazing retro onion decorations:

Design sponge

link

DIY

Also found on Pinterest a rather handy tutorial for the flower pom poms!

Tutorial

And an easy to follow video too!

The Results!

Last weekend my husband and I had an enjoyable afternoon making our own versions of the above pom poms and retro onions! We had such a laugh and made a few mistakes along the way. (You don't need to know that my husband thought it was hysterical to use two of the discarded pom poms to pretend he was a cheerleader (!) not pretty)

My husband got all the "manly" jobs like cutting and stapling and i concentrated on the "fluffing!" The results are really festive.

Our theme for the house this year is simple red and white. We've hung about 11 of these decorations above the dining room table from different heights and it gives it a really unique feel when you're sat underneath them. We made various sizes of the pom poms and retro onions to create variety and depth.

The retro onion decorations are the easiest things in the world to make: Card, guillotine, (or scalpel and metal ruler with a cutting mat) stapler, bakers twine or ribbon, a hole punch and drawing pins to attach to the ceiling.

*Easy to follow tutorial here.


If you can't be bothered...
If you've run out of time, are too busy or just not feeling crafty, you could buy these honeycomb paper decorations that I bought from M&S for £9.99 which I've hung in the lounge. Then just sit back with a Bailey's and a mince pie and enjoy your handy work! Merry Christmas!

The tree is up!

Keeping it simple this year! White tree, red baubles. In the attic I have a silver tree and a black tree, but decided on a traditional red and white theme for this Christmas.

Wash your mouth out!

Handmade soap
If you read regularly you will know how much I love the whole handmade thing! Lot's of bloggers seem to be making their own Christmas gifts this year which I think is great, I've now got lots of new ideas for next year and wish I was going to be on the receiving end of some of the amazing things being made.

This year I decided to make some soap for family and friends. It's a wonderful process of melting and adding colour, glitter and fragrance, not dissimilar to baking, (without the perfume obviously!) and very therapeutic. And, they smell amazing!

Once the soap was set, I sliced it into bars and wrapped it, first in some off cuts of cellophane and then I wrapped strips of decorative paper around the middle "cigar band" style followed by a sticker on which I wrote the fragrance.

Some of the soaps I've left single as stocking fillers, and I also made stacks of three, using ribbon and a little hand stamped gift label. I'll just pop these into a gift bag and they're ready to give!

Words on Wednesday

Christmas!

All images from Pinterest

Thriller night

Reading books and watching films are two of my favourite pastimes. If some sweet popcorn and Maltesers are thrown into the mix, I'm one happy bird.

Thrillers with heart
I've just finished reading "Afterwards" by Rosamund Lupton. I also read her debut novel "Sister" and both are difficult-to-put-down reads. Her books are classed within the thriller/crime fiction genre, but they aren't your typical Tess Geritsen or Lee Child (both of whom are brilliant by the way!)

Both books are thrillers in the sense that there is a crime central to the story and a twisting and turning plot, but they have "soul" they are written beautifully and with great poignancy. If you've read and enjoyed "Lovely Bones" you'll like these even better! Just to entice you further, "Sister" has a great twist at the end!

Movies

In terms of films, the best one I've seen recently is "Hannah." It's an interesting plot with great acting from Eric Banna and Cate Blanchet, but the clincher for me is the amazing cinematography, it is breathtakingly beautiful to watch.

Actress, Saoirse Ronan who plays Susie Salmon in the film adaptation of the book "Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, plays Hannah, and she is brilliant at playing her part. If you like Quentin Tarantino style films such as "Kill Bill" you're going to LOVE this film.

Saying goodbye

I always feel a little sad when I finish a good book, it's like saying goodbye to good friends, leaving the characters behind. So, I like to have a few in waiting. These are the books I have lined up to read next:

• The Innocent by Harlan Coben

• No Second Chance also by Harlan Coben

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

• One Day by David Nicholls (I know I'm late to this party!)

Eclectic

I'm also looking forward to some new movie releases on dvd, namely, Mr Poppers penguins, Captain America and Hangover 2.....yep, my taste in films and books is pretty eclectic!

Have you read any great books recently or seen a good film? What books/films are on your Christmas list? Let me know your recommendations in the comments, please. 

Words on Wednesday

Retail Therapy: Gifts for pets

1. If your pet gets cold ears in the winter, you could buy this little hat!

2. Okay. This isn't a gift for a pet, but you do deserve a little something for yourself. Cute ring.

3. A Personalised plaque for the rabbit hutch.

4. I love this bird feeder. Stylish and practical. Good way to use up that last old apple that's gone a bit     wrinkly!

5. Beautiful handmade leather collars.

6. Puppia soft harnesses are the best. Flossie has several of these that I buy from this seller. Machine washable too. What more could you or your dog ask for?!

7. Cute little mice for cats to harmlessly torture!

8. All natural shampoo. Well, everyone gets toiletries at Christmas, don't they!?

9. Another bird feeder! Make an extra slice of toast in the morning and put it out for the birds. No butter, jam or Nutella though!!

10. How cute is this little nest for for your furry friend? Comes in various sizes. Perfect!