Hello!

I'm back!

And so far, I'm feeling so relaxed and rested... Let's hope that lasts longer than a day. I'm so excited to be back, even though I really enjoyed a break from practically everything in my life, it's good to return to things and remember that I enjoy them.

Thank you so much to everyone who left a comment to see if I was ok - I'm sorry I can't go into more about the bad news - it's not really my news to share but I truly appreciate the comments and emails that I recieved, it really helped. I'm feeling much more able to deal with the news now even if I'm not feeling any better about the news itself and that's a step forward that I'm happy with.

I don't really know where to start now I'm back - I got some new cameras (eep, see one above), I took some photos, I saw a lot of Beatles related things, I played on the xbox (alot), I had a few lay ins, I watched Krufts and lots of films, I had a day in my PJ's, I caught up with some blog reading, I willed our daffodils in the garden to grow faster and I generally took it easy... oh and the highlight of my week was seeing Picasso's Weeping Woman - it was absolutely beautiful!!

I just noticed that I reached 650 followers, so please if you are new here (or you don't comment often, or you just want to...) say hi! I'd love to get to know you and check out your blogs! I'm still blown away that I have more than 10 followers, so thank you again to everyone who sticks around.

It's good to be back!

p.s. The rather lovely and beautiful Illy is having a giveaway of one of my prints on her blog, if you fancy winning one of my prints click here!

We love 35mm cameras here in blog land!

First, I need to announce the winner of my diana mini giveaway! I meant to do it on Monday but life got a little on top of me, so sorry for the delay.

The winner of the diana mini white from Lomography UK is

Kathy Tran

Well done Kathy!!

Now don't despair, I'm writing this post specifically to tell you that there are more 35mm camera giveaways in blog land right now!

First up, the lovely Elle from Diana Mini Love (you know I love her by now surely) is giving away a superheadz slim camera in gold!

Is it wrong that I want a gold one as well as my yellow one? I don't think so...

And... the gorgeous Lauren from Busy Bee Lauren is also giving away a diana mini white!

Amazing right?

Oh my...

How stinking cute is this card from Dude and Chick, I love it!

Thanks Alyssa for sending me the link :)

p.s. Project You is having another massive giveaway this week, as part of Spectacular September and you can win two of my prints! Check it out!!

A rather amazing giveaway!!

I love finding new blogs but I especially love when bloggers find me and lead me back to their amazing blogs!!

I've just recently started reading Laura's blog The Madness of Mundanity

but I am already smitten, here are few reasons why

Laura lives in London

(I heart london)

She works in a vintage camera shop

(oh my, I want to visit so bad)

She has just started a Vintage Camera Project, eep!

(I might borrow this idea with my cameras, brilliant!)

She has some amazing charity shop finds

and

she is holding a fabulous giveaway!!

I was hugely tempted to enter but really, I already have a lomolitos camera and some lomography photo clips and we're not eating sugar so no Haribo for me... but I had to share it!

(the polaroid brooch is super cute though...)

And I also wanted to fill out the blanks, so here goes!

I always:

Oversleep

Skip breakfast

Kiss boyfriend goodbye

Cry at sad films (alot)

I sometimes:

Wear heels

Forget to take my glasses off when I fall asleep

don't text back

sing in the shower

I never:

wear skirts - I have the best intentions but it never happens

have warm hands or feet

remember to take my camera when I really should have brought it

stop getting excited about getting to go home.

Hello 2010!

(Photo Reuters/Stephen Hird)

Happy New Year!!

I still can't believe that the holidays are over but I am definitely feeling refreshed, over excited and happy that its time to make a fresh start with things!

How was everyone's holidays? Mine was wonderful - I saw all my family and friends and I had sooo much sleep. However, I had no signal on my phone in Norfolk (so no twitter or random texts ) and for some reason our laptop wouldn't connect to anyones wifi - so I had no internet either - it was surprisingly refreshing and now I am so excited about being back.

(I missed you!)

Did I mention that I got so much sleep...? Ohhh it was wonderful!

I have so much to do now though (catch up on over a weeks worth of blogs, sort out my shop, send lots of parcels, email people...) so please bare with me :)

I'm so excited to be back!! Happy 2010 everyone!

p.s. A big hello to all my latest followers, I'm still overwhelmed by how lovely you all are and I really am so happy you're here - sorry I've been so organised with linking to everyone.

p.s.s. Farah is having a lovely giveaway to celebrate her 200th post! I love her blog so pop over and say Hi :)

A quick hi!!

Ever have one of those days where there is so much you have to do and something has to give?? Well today its my little blog - sorry blog! I'll be back tomorrow - hopefully less busy and stressed and ready to tackle a real post.

Check out today's guest poster at Diamond in the Rough though - I promise you won't even miss me once you head on over to her lovely blog (after reading her amazing post on Diamond's first of course)

Oh and if you're a US reader (you lucky thing) check out two of my favourite ladies Nicole and Diana's joint giveaway over at My Teacups in Peony!

Nicole + Diana = blog happiness!

Hope you are all having a fantastic Wednesday!!

p.s. This ended up being a longer post than planned, its almost a real post, woo!

Gem Award Questions and Answers!

Yeay! So here are the questions and answers from last weeks Gem Award from Cassie (finally!)

Sara asked me:

How much do you like chocolate?
I loooovee chocolate so so much! Most people who know me don't ask what I'm having for dessert or what type of cake I would prefer - if there is a chocolate choice then I am having it! My love for chocolate is only limited to milk chocolate though (preferably Cadbury's please) - I really don't like white or dark chocolate.

and what is your favourite word?
My favourite word is lovely. You've probably seen me using it alot on here and it got to the point of where every comment I wrote had it in there somewhere - I had to stop myself from writing it. I love the sound of it and I love the meaning of it!

Cassie asked me:

Which beach in the UK is your favourite and why?
I would have to say Wells-Next-The-Sea (see numerous posts) Not only do I have fond memories of there as a child (mainly the sweet shop and the park) but I have great memories of there as an adult as well (mainly the sweet shop and the park!) and Harry loves it too, it was the first beach we took him on and he had far too much fun!

Saskia asked me:

What would your perfect day in London be?
Now this is quite hard for me to answer - I have two views of London - one as a tourist and one as a resident. Living there we used to love going to the Holloway Market on a Saturday (look for the bag stall! I brought so many during the year we were there.) Then heading to Wood Green (the nearest Cineworld) to go watch a film before going to the best Italian restaurant in Finsbury Park for dinner. I sometimes really miss our little studio so much.

My perfect day as a tourist though would involve breakfast, lunch and dinner at amazing restaurants (there are so many to choose from), a trip to Harrods just to look around and get some macaroons, a walk along the Thames, a look around the Tate Modern and a few hours in Covent Garden - I adore Covent Garden! Preferably it would be at christmas where the lights look amazing and the atmosphere is like nowhere else in the world. I miss London!!

and where would your dream place to live be?
By the beach in a little cottage with a garden and some dogs.
(Short and sweet)

Molly asked me:

What is the typical day in the life of Rhianne?
I apologise in advance Molly as my typical day is really quite dull. I always oversleep, I am so rubbish at getting up, then I get ready for work and get the bus to work (fun). I then spend most of my day sat at a desk either doing work or reading/writing blogs. I get the bus home and finally get to see Boyfriend (the highlight of my day!) we then make dinner together and catch up on TV or play on the Xbox or watch a movie. Weekdays are so monotenous aren't they? We have more fun at the weekends I promise!

Diana asked me:

Why did you get started in photography and shooting film?
I have always loved film photography. The first camera I ever used as a child was a 35mm camera - the first camera I loved was a 35mm camera. I have never had a digital camera that I have loved. I got a small Kodak one for university which I dropped in my second year and never got round to replacing and even now I borrow my Boyfriend's or use my phone (which admittedly does have a good camera) if I need to take a photo.

For some reason digital never took off for me - it was too easy to take loads of pictures of nothing - too easy to put them on my computer and forget about them. I never held them in my hands after taking them, I never waited excitedly for them to develop and I felt the urge to pose, check and retake a digital photo when I wasn't happy with it ruined the spontaneity of photography, especially when out with friends or visiting somewhere new.

Falling back into using 35mm film was an accident really... even though I knew I wanted to do something different, something just for me, I didn't plan on it being photography and I think if I hadn't started this blog then I never would have brought my holga camera (or any of the others) Taking photographs with film felt a bit like coming home, almost like the years I spent doing painting and drawing at college or design at University were mearly a distraction as I fumbled through life trying to find what I loved doing the most.

I hope that these you enjoyed these answers and that they made sense! I'm going to pass this award onto Marisa (who tagged me with a music tag which I haven't done yet, sorry!), her bestie and always lovely Micaela and Callie from The Magical Bean*! You can either choose to have your own Q&A post ladies or post pictures of things that you love.

*Callie is also having an amazing gingerbread man ornament giveaway on her blog - she made them herself and I love them! You should definitely head over and enter!

p.s. Hello to my amazing newest followers! I have been a bit slack with this (sorry!) so here goes! Hello Abbie, Anna, Linda, The Brocantess, Celeste, Much Love, Boots, Munieca, Maggisaar, Nikki, Belen, Meg, Myfotoproject, Gracie, Weston-Super-Mum, JMay, Lise, Fee-Amore, Cat*, The Childlike Empress, Debbie and Rogue, I'm so glad you are all here!

Giveaways galore...

Happy Monday! If like me you are a little sad that the weekend is over then here are a couple of giveaways to cheer you up.

First up - the amazing Megan at Studio MME (who helped me with my first big giveaway way back when) is having a giveaway of one of her mini prints to celebrate 350 followers - how exciting is that?


I love Megan's work so the chance to win some is great!

Secondly the wonderful Nicole at My Teacups in Peony is hosting a giveaway of my prints!!

My first print giveaway on a blog!! Hurray!

You could win a print from my shop as well as some extra goodies, so pop on over and show Nicole some love!

P.S...

I totally forgot to add this morning that I have a guest post on My Teacups in Peony today with some pictures from the weekend - we went to Whitby and it was lovely!

Pop over and send Nicole some love.

Oh and the giveaway ends tomorrow, so get in fast if you want to win an

amazing amazing print!

Today...

{today will be a good day by l{im}

... I have no idea what to post about...

...my jaw and gums really ache from having a tooth taken out on Monday...

...I miss my family and friends - I'm glad I'm seeing them soon...

...I really fancy a big bowl of chocolate icecream... with sprinkles...

...I remembered that I need to bake my sister a cake for Saturday and I have no time, eep!

...I have lots I need to do - just not. quite. yet...

...the sun finally just came out (is nearly 4pm) it's cheering me up... alot.

...we're going to the cinema to see Fantastic Mr Fox - I can't wait!

Hopefully tomorrow I will feel inspired!

p.s. One of my favourite ladies Paulina is having a giveaway to celebrate her 100th post.

Check it out - you won't regret it - there's cookies :)

A few random things...

I hate thinking up good post titles...

I hope I never get bored of taking photos of our feet...

The kitten down the road snuck into our house yesterday...

We put it back outside after it fully explored our front room and got stuck behind the sofa (hehe)

We then watched it learning how to jump and climb outside....

We might have eaten half a tub of Ben and Jerry's Half Baked icecream in one sitting, oops.

I might have kicked leaves along the path on our mini adventure yesterday...

Boyfriend looked at me disapprovingly... before joining in, haha.

oh and...

The lovely* Cassie from Hydrangeas and White Daisies is having a giveaway to celebrate her wonderful* new etsy shop.

The photo swap is now closed and I am currently in the process of pairing people together! Wooo!

*and I love positive adjectives...

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

Woo, its Friday! This week has been wonderful, amazing and hectic all in one go! A huge thank you to everyone who has joined the photo swap – over 40 people so far, that’s about 30 more than I expected and thank you to everyone who has linked to it on their blogs.

I got some great news yesterday which I am so excited about but can’t share with you just yet and I have fantastic things planned for next week and towards the end of the month – are you as excited as I am yet? Hehe!

Before my usual links I wanted to show you this. I saw the link for it on a Cup of Jo last week and I could not believe it when I saw the guy on the left!

I know him!

His name is Josh, he went to the same college as me and moved to London about the same time that we did to start a career as a musician – we even saw him a couple of times (and he said hello) What are the chances that out of a thousand portraits from London the first one I see would be someone I know… and I don’t even know that many people in London! Crazy!

Anyway… I hope that you all have a wonderful weekends! We are finally going to see Up! and I am beyond excited about it!! See you Monday!

1. I want a polaroid wall of puppies! Especially ones in ties!
2. More key love... I can't get enough of them at the moment.
3. An amazing idea for a birthday card.
4. Some amazing Halloween cupcakes - I love the fingers!
5. and finally more yellow love... I just can't help myself...

p.s. Hello to my latest followers - Cassie, Dream Sequins, Ruth (who has a giveaway at the moment) Renee, Manju, Becky, Jana, Rêverie, Melanie, SCH, Sophie, Maddy and Jenny (who is new to blogger and also love cameras...)

p.p.s. Check out Saskia's first giveaway - I would comment but I already have Dr Feelgood (I love) and English Tea... as they are two of my favourites as well! You definitely don't want to miss it!

Oh my...

Isn't this too cute?!

Happy Friday - A Tea for Joy Giveaway!

It seems every friday Tea for Joy is in one of my posts somehow (I love this blog) and now such an amazing give away! A year's worth of stationery from Papermash - one package each month for twelve months, with a minimum retail value of £10 per month - I love stationary!

Also, check out the free typewriter download... eep, its so cute and theres illustrative tape - I think I might have to buy some of that anyway :)

p.s. Thanks to Melissa Kaye for posting about this - I might have missed it otherwise...

Love. Obsess. Inspire. Giveaway...

I don't really think I'm lucky enough to win two giveaways in one month (or ever) but its worth a shot right? Also the prize is amazing and all the sponsors are great.


I particularly like the Pink Boot Series - Elephant from Tallfrog

and the Darling Deer Laptop Sleeve from Lollington’s Shop... if only I had a laptop!

Oh Hello Friend Giveaway Favourites...

1. I love love love this teacup print!! And check out the Double Happiness blog too... yeay!

2. I love swings! This print is just magical and so is the blog to match...


3. This Panda tote bag may actually be too cute! Panda's + yellow = :)
I also love the Ninja prints from this shop and the blog...