Things I've learnt from blogs this week...

I am so glad its Friday, I'm going back to Norfolk this evening and we're taking one of my best friends there for the first time too - I can't wait to play tourist and go to the beach!! It's a Bank Holiday here this weekend so I probably won't be posting again until Tuesday - I hope that you all have a lovely few days!

1. I can not get enough of beautiful yellow images!
2. I am still a little bit obsessed with tiles... whatever the size
3. I need the shoe print - its so us!
4. Book lovers never go to bed alone (happy sigh)
5. Puppies are dangerous (ly cute) I want this one!

Hey to my latest followers Sara, Nicole (check out her love story project, I love it!), and Jillian-Anne!

p.s. Don't forget about the giveaway!

The last of the Holga's from Birmingham...

I can't believe that it has been over a month since we were there, it really was a great weekend. I can't wait for Supersonic next year now!

I don't know if you can tell in the middle row of photos but it had just started to rain as I was taking these - I was pretty insistant I wanted to take the photos anyway and dragged poor Boyfriend around with me (thank you boyfriend) but as the light was pretty dull the colours didn't turn out as great as the other photos. So I edited them in photoshop again - I love how they look in black and white though - who knew rain could look so good!

I also love the photo of the The Old Crown Inn which has been there since 1639, it was just as lovely inside too (fourth photo down...)

I am so excited about taking Helga to Norfolk this weekend to see the beach and my friends and family - I might have packed a roll of film for each day.... oops!

50 Followers Giveaway!!

UPDATE: Giveaway now closed and winner announced! Thanks to all who entered :)

I told you exciting things were about to happen! Yeay! I have been waiting for days to hit 50 followers as I am so excited by this giveaway! Eeee!!

Thank you so much to my lovely readers – I can’t believe that it’s only been 6 months that I have been blogging and I am so happy that I have met so many amazing people!


To help celebrate, the lovely Megan from M.M.E Studios Stutterings is giving away a print from her wonderful etsy shop Studio M.M.E to one of you lucky readers!

As well as having a great blog and being a talented author and illustrator, Megan was also lucky enough to find a Kodak Duaflex camera in her grandmother's closet which still had unused expired film in it and with it she took some beautiful and ghostly images. I have been dreaming of this happening to me... aren’t these photos gorgeous?

To be in with a chance to win one of Megan’s stunning prints taken with a beautiful vintage camera, check out Megan’s shop Studio M.M.E and leave a comment about your favourite item below. The winner will be announced on Friday 4th September!

For extra entries leave a separate comment for each (or any) of these:

1. Be a follower/ become a follower of my blog
2. Post about the giveaway on your own blog (please leave a link so I can have a nose)
3. Tweet about the giveway (please leave your twitter name)

Thank you so much again for reading my blog… it’s been an absolute delight having you here and good luck with the giveaway!

p.s. 50 (well 51 now) is incredible!! I’m still overly excited about it!

I love Helga the Holga...

and she loves me...

Can you see the clusters of hearts on the left hand side? I nearly died when I saw them...

I have no idea why or how but I love her surprises!

p.s. This is the roof of a warehouse that we saw some bands in at Supersonic - I didn't think it was as dark as it actually was...

More Blog Awards...

Eeee, more awards, I can't really believe it!! I'm so excited to be giving more out... though its hard to think of who to give them too as so many are making the rounds at the moment, I love it!

First a thank you to Jessica for the Adorable blog award - you blog is adorable too!

I'm going to give this to Paulina (who I know just got an award from Nicole as well- but her blog is so adorable I couldn't resist) and Lissbeth who also has an adorable blog and twitter page.

Another huge thank you to the wonderful Nicole who gave me this kreativ blogger award, along with a tag of 7 random facts about myself. Thank you for being so lovely to me these past few weeks Nicole! :)

I'm going to pass this onto Crystal Ball, Saskia*, Gabby and Melissa Kaye

7 Random things about me:

1. I hate brushing my teeth - it always makes me feel ill but I love how clean they feel afterwards.
2. I go through phases of chocolate cravings - right now I want a Kit Kat chunky!
3. My little sister is taller than me which I don't think is fair...
4. I drink alot of water - I love it.
5. My brightly coloured striped umbrella is my favourite thing at the moment. It makes the horrible weather so much more bearable.
6. I love going to the pub - the atmosphere is always wonderful and there are so many great ones around here.
7. I have worn glasses since I was 12 and I'm not really sure what I look like without them...
   

* Who just became my 50th follower!!! Yes!!! Exciting things are about to happen! Woo!

The photos from the weekend...

Yesterday really was one of those days - everyone I talked to seemed to have bad news to tell me: my parents, my sister, one of my best friends... Luckily I didn't have any bad news to tell anyone but I don't really like hearing it.

Its a good thing that I found my phone cable safely tucked up next to our bed

as it could have turned out to be a terrible day...

Friday night we decided to have a spontaneous cheese, wine, olive and pie party and it was amazing! We brought a little too much food though and ended up eating cheese and biscuits all weekend... oops!

Saturday and Sunday were happy, lazy days - I got to eat an ice lolly on our front step (currently my favourite activity) and...

We managed to find another cheap second hand dance mat so now we can dance/mess around together! Yeay!!

A few holgas to cheer me up....

Its going to be one of those days - I can feel it. My hair looks awful, my bus was incredibly late and I forgot my phone cable so I can't upload my photos from the weekend... sob

On the plus side I did get another roll from my Holga developed and I used the new laptop (eee) to scan them in... yeay for the laptop! These are only half of the holga photos from a couple of weekends ago, the other film is still waiting to be finished...

I don't know why the ones with people in them are so cropped but I still love how they turned out... each roll has been so different! I can not wait to take Helga the Holga to the beach at the weekend, yeay!!

p.s. I also developed a mini girl crush on Kristen Stewart (and reinforced my crush on Ryan Reynolds) at the weekend after watching Adventureland - Have you seen it? I loved it!

p.p.s. How small do my shoes look next to Boyfriend's, hehe!

Things I've learnt from blogs this week...

I'm so glad its Friday - for some reason this week has just dragggged. I'm far too excited about getting to play with the Laptop this weekend, especially updating my Ipod - it really has been that long since I put new music on there... I hope you all have exciting weekends too!

1. This is such a simple idea for a model - but its brilliant!
2. This is the best. video. ever - so cuteeee
3. I love everything about this wedding but mainly the big yellow bow!
4. I love these polaroid collages - I really want to doing one with Poladroid...
5. I need this for the laptop....

p.s. Hello to my new followers Leah Mitchell (do you have a blog?) and Ruxandra!!

Dear Mr Slug...

First I guess I should apologise for throwing you out of our bathroom window - that was probably uncalled for, especially as you made the worst splatting noise I have ever heard as you landed (ew).

However, I am sure you understand that I was not very happy to see you (or 2 more of your long, slimy friends) in my living room last night making trails on my rug! I did think about pouring salt on you (I had some prepared) but cleaning up bubbling, dead slugs at 1am is not my idea of fun...

I have no idea how you get into the house, we checked everywhere and put salt around each wall but you still manage to get in, taunting me with your trails that don't lead anywhere and after throwing out a total of 6 of you I am willing to say that I am not happy, especially as I have developed an irrational fear of stepping on one of you after finding the first one with my bare feet *shudder*

I feel its only fair that I warn your (hopefully last) remaining slug friend who hid from me and then danced circles on our welcome rug last night after our little showdown that if I see him - I will salt him!

Or at the very least Boyfriend will... as he is almost always wearing some sort of foot wear!

p.s. We did actually buy this book for our friend who hates slugs... I'm seriously considering borrowing it!

Old Pictures... Beach Sept '06

I just spent a whole hour looking through old photos on my hard drive - its incredible how many memories can be hidden within all the photos!

I love these photos of me and my family on the beach. Most of my favourites photos were from the beach :) funny that...

p.s Hello to my newest followers Yelena, Jessicaluhrman, themagicalbean, Au Lapin Blanc and Rachel. Nearly at 50 now... ohhhhhh!

Out and about...

Around Kirkstall Abbey with a mild addiction to the panorama setting on my phone and taking photos of our feet... Such fun!

*The photo of our feet wasn't taken with the panorama setting - I just cropped it so it looked pretty next to the other two.*

Laptop Laptop Laptop...

Eeeee, I am so excited that we are getting a laptop tomorrow- its just what we need!

Once I finished University (over a year ago now, I can't believe it) my computer decided that after 4 years of being overworked and constantly on it had had enough and one day it stopped turning on. I was incredibly sad - it was my first computer and it got me through my degree and was with me from the beginning... it also kept me in contact with Boyfriend through the years that we were hours away from each other. Luckily I saw the signs early and I put everything onto my hard drive - so my little computers spirit lives on (despite the fact that it is now stored safely in our wardrobe, waiting to be dismantled or updated...)

So when the new laptop arrives I am going to:

1. Update my music and my Ipod - Boyfriend has so much music on his computer but I always feel bad if I hog it - at least with the laptop I can just plug the harddrives in and go!
2. Transfer all my blog things from my little data stick onto my patiently waiting hard drive.
3. Look through all my pictures from the past 4 years - I can not wait to do this. I think I'll share the best ones on here - maybe have a reminiscing week - what do you think?
4. Play some old PC games that we have been saving for a rainy day - Broken Sword, yeay
5. Catch up with Google Reader at the weekends! Woo! (and possibly even post... because just the weekdays isn't enough, hehe)
6. Find the cutest laptop case for it - though Boyfriend will have to like it too, so maybe I mean coolest?

p.s. I'm also super excited that we have something that is ours! You know... besides the Xbox...

Blog awards...

Yeay for blog awards! I love getting them but I love giving them out more! It really is a pleasure to be in contact with some wonderful, creative and exciting people through blogging - it amazes me everyday. Obviously I would love to give all the awards back to the people who gave them to me - but they already have them!

First is the Keepsake Blog award from Red Boots - how cute is this?

I shall also give it to two people:

Amy at I Then Shall Live (Such a wonderful post!)
Evelyn at A Star of Love

I love Red Boots blog by the way and I am so excited that she voluteered to help with my guest post week - I almost don't want to go on holiday so I can read them with everyone else :)

Next is the award from Sunflares Plethora - I am incredibly fond of this sweet girl already (who will also be guest blogging!!) and I haven't been reading her blog that long, so I was hugely excited to get an award from her, yeay!

So I'm going to give this award too:

Adele at Poptart
Alissa at Grace's Birdcage
Chelsea at Life is Beautiful
Alicia at The Red Deer
Nina at Naturally Nina

Jamie at Same New Story

This final award from Hermia at A Chick Named Hermia and the amazing Diamond in the Rough (Check it out!) I am giving to all of my followers!!

I know its a slight cop out but I seriously can not believe I have over 40 (insane right) I was thinking of doing another giveaway at 50 followers but I never expected to get anywhere near that number in under a month so this is all I have for you -for now. Thank you so much for reading and please keep leaving comments - I love reading them and will try my best to comment back! (which should be easier now we're getting a laptop, woooop!!)

So right now...

I'm feeling happily overwhelmed!

(phrase shamelessly stolen from here :D)

Its been a bit of a odd weekend - I felt so ill on Saturday that we hardly did anything. I did check the internet though (I'm weak) and I found that not only had I won a one-off parcel from Tea for Joy... but I had been given awards by Sunflares Plethora and A Chick Named Hermia (oh and I got one from Red Boots as well but that was a while ago and I totally forgot)

Thank you so much!!

Luckily due to a combination of such exciting news and lots of naps (I love naps) I felt much better on Sunday so we popped into Town. We had a cheeky McDonalds in order to get some free Cola glasses... how cute are they?

And I tortured myself by looking around Urban Outfitters but not actually buying anything... oops! I was sorely tempted by this Ice Invaders tray though.

And thats about it... I love lazy weekends!

p.s. Hello to my latest followers Jade, Kirsten (do you have blogs? The google friends connect thing is so annoying!) Rachel, Lissbeth, notRuairi and Designani! I'm hugely excited to have you here!!

p.p.s. You can tell its been a lazy weekend when the only photos you have are from McDonalds!

Things I've learnt from blogs this week...

Yeay its Friday, we're having another lazy weekend this weekend and I can't wait! I hope that you all have lovely weekends.

1. You are loved
2. I love pencils - I used to make photoframes with them (maybe I should start doing creative things again... sigh)
3. I'm loving the embroidery hoops - I bet this is so easy to do as well.
4. How cute are these rings!
5. I love this memo block

Hello to my latest followers Crystal Ball, Alissa, Mahmood, Ink Obsession Designs and Alice Chan (Do you have a blog?) Thank you for following!

Vintage Cameras...

1. +, 2. +, 3. +, 4. +, 5. +, 6. +, 7. +, 8. +, 9. +

I think I am in love...

If you had asked me a year ago what camera I wanted I would have said a DSLR but now I am totally uninterested with that. I think the Holga may have started something because all I want now is vintage cameras. I love the individuality, the textures, the charm, the anticipation of the unexpected...

I just have no idea where to start.

Oh my...

I know - 3 posts in one day but I got too excited about seeing these and I had to share!! I know that Kate Spade is everywhere at the moment (here, here, here and here) but I had to post the pictures of the yellow tights! I seriously seriously want some!

I'm completely in love with these clothes - can you believe I didn't know about Kate Spade before today?!

Black and White Holga Love...

I'll admit, I wasn't very happy with some of the holga photos that I got back from Birmingham.

The weather wasn't great and the colours looked a little dull and lifeless. I toyed with the idea of playing with them in Photoshop {I heart photoshop} but it wasn't until I saw these that I decided to just do it!

The contrast of the tones look so much better in black and white complimenting the dull weather! I really should just buy some black and white film...

Dear films I want to see...

Why are you not out in the UK yet?

Everyone is talking about you and I want to see you! Please hurry up...

p.s. Hello to my newest followers Paulina, Leigh and Fallon!

One Day...

[via WeHeartIt]

I saw this lovely post on That Unreliable Girl and felt inspired. I do love to make lists!

One Day...

... I will have the cutest puppy in the world

... and I will take lots of pictures of it

... I will have a garden to grow vegetables and fruit in

... I will be brave enough to wear skirts everytime the weather is nice

(which admittedly is rare in England...)

... I will find a job that truly makes me happy

... I will live near the beach

But today...

... I just want to look at lots of amazing pictures* and look forward to all the fun things that we are going to be doing in the next few months!

*Such an amazing spotlight of photographers series!

Help wanted...

I know that I am planning ahead but...

Does any one fancy guest blogging on for the easily distracted... whilst I'm on holiday in September?

I can't bear the thought of leaving my blog empty for a whole week!

Ideally I would love 5 guests - 1 for each day of the week and maybe it could have some sort of theme? I duno - what do you guys think?

If you're interested in doing a guest post then please email me at rhiannelouise@gmail.com or leave a comment here with your email and I can get to you :)

Weekend Love...

I love love love unplanned weekends - they are always the most relaxing and fun. There are no worries about where you are meant to be when or who you are meant to be with. Just Me, Boyfriend and whatever we want to do.

Whatever we wanted this weekend seemed to involve lots of yummy food and drinks - which isn't really a surprise. On Friday night we went for Tapas and cocktails with friends where we shared so much delicious food.

On Saturday we went for a pub lunch - I had risotto, which I am obsessed with at the moment and Boyfriend had a Ploughman's platter.

All of the food was amazing and the condiments were delightful especially the onion marmalade - I think I'm going to have to try making some. I especially loved the wallpaper and the old men playing cards with their pints!

p.s. please ignore my fascination with our feet everywhere we go :)

Things I've learnt from blogs this week...

Its been a hard week this week and to make things even more frustrating we are no closer to knowing whats happening today then we were on Monday... At least its the weekend now, phew. We haven't got anything planned either - I'm looking forward to having a relaxing couple of days!

1. I'm not sure what is better - the fact that a box turns into a coathanger or that its addressed to Mr Benn!!
2. These images are lovely - I love the walls
3. Matching stamps and stationary is to cute!
4. I'm not normally that keen on masks but these are so delicate and pretty
5. Balloons are so pretty!

Hope you all have lovely weekends!

Blogroll Update: August

Here are the latest additions to my blogroll - I know I keep adding to it but all of these are amazing blogs! Happy reading!