Wednesday Wish List

Here are some of the things on my wish list this week...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 

15 // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 // 25 // 26 // 27

This week I'm mostly lusting after dresses and cute cardigans from Collectif, sun dresses from Dorothy Perkins, Betsey Johnson novelty bags (that ferris wheel, though!), Tatty Devine jewellery, and heaps of clothes from ASOS Curve. 

What's on your wish list this week?

You can find more of the pieces I have my eye on at any given time on my style wish list boards on Pinterest.

Riverdrift House Easter Cross Stitch

Happy Easter Monday, everyone!

I hope you're all having a good one. I've had a lazy day watching The Sound of Music, playing with the puppy, eating left over trifle and turkey sandwiches, and napping- I'm so shattered! The last couple of days have really taken it out of me.

I'll be sharing a few snippets from my Easter weekend tomorrow, when I'll hopefully feel a little more alive, but for now I just wanted to quickly share my Easter cross stitch with you guys, before Easter is over for another year.

I made this cross stitch early last year, but I don't think I ever blogged about it in much detail.

I bought the cross stitch kit from a small Cornish brand called Riverdrift House, who I usually go to for new cross stitch kits because their designs are so pretty, easy to follow, and very affordable, too. I think I'm already on my 6th picture. I mostly stick to Christmas cross stitches, but I couldn't resist picking up the Happy Easter kit because it was so cute and colourful, and I wanted to branch out and try something new. I didn't enjoy working on it as much as the Christmas ones I've made, but it was fun stitching pastel coloured Easter eggs, cats, hearts, and butterflies for a while. I'm really pleased with the end result and I have to admit it came out well. It only took me around six weeks to finish it, (mostly by doing an hour or so a day) and I don't think I even made any mistakes, which is unusual for me! I usually get a few stitches wrong somewhere.

Predictably, I still haven't managed to get the picture framed yet, even though it's been over a year since I finished it. I never seem to get round to framing stuff, and I'm not sure why. Maybe I'll get my act together and have it framed in time for next Easter! (Yeah, right!) I'm a stitcher, not a framer!

If you want to give this cross stitch a go, you can find the kit here. You can also find the full range of Riverdrift House cross stitch kits over on their website and on Amazon, too.

Do you enjoy cross stitching in your spare time? 

Posts you might also like

My Christmas Cross Stitches 2015

Noel Peace On Earth Christmas Cross Stitch

Lovely Links | Body Positivity, Chronic Illness, Mental Health & More

I'm sorry that posts are so thin on the ground at the moment. I'm suffering from a major bout of writer's block, and can't seem to break through it, even though I've got ten posts sitting half-finished in my drafts with photos at the ready. 

I thought it was a good opportunity to share a mammoth list of posts I've read, enjoyed, been inspired by, or learnt something from over the last month or so. There are well over a hundred links in this post! A big chunk of them are about mental health, illness, and disability, but you'll also find links to body positivity and fat acceptance posts, random acts of kindness tales, and  of course, a good dose of animal related stories, too. I don't expect anyone to read any or all of them, but I wanted to share them anyway, for anybody who might find them helpful, or need a reason to smile.

Fat Acceptance / Body Positivity

♥ An open letter to women  who say ''I just want my body back.''

♥ A love letter from your fat friend: it's okay you're fat.

♥ A request from your fat friend: what I need when we talk about bodies.

♥ From your fat friend: let's talk about fatphobia.

♥ To the person wondering how not to take stares personally.

♥ Daisy Ridley 'will not apologize' for her body size after Instagram criticism.

♥ Fashion designer has the best response to ridiculous plus size shorts advert.

♥ 17 reasons why plus-size women shouldn't wear bikinis.

♥ The #A4WaistChallenge sees women measure themselves against sheets of A4 paper and it's ridiculous.

Mental Health

♥ 3 real ways to help a friend who's suicidal.

♥ 4 things I want you to know about lists like '24 things people with anxiety want you to know'.

♥ 5 steps that helped me recover after a suicide attempt.

♥ 7 things I wish I knew when I was diagnosed with depression as a teen.

♥ 12 things people do in the A.M. to relieve anxiety.

♥ 12 charts that are way too real for anyone who worries constantly.

♥ 19 small awards anyone with anxiety deserves to receive.

♥ 25 texts to send a loved one living with depression.

♥ 30 things people with depression want their significant others to know.

♥ 32 unexpected ways mental illness has made people better.

♥ Before I knew it was anxiety, I thought I was dying.

♥ Why we need to stop treating mental health as such a taboo.

♥ When depression is a terrorist.

♥ What I want my younger self to know about our future with depression.

♥ When depression is like feeling homesick at home.

♥ When you're tired of being brave facing depression.

♥ When friends don't acknowledge the pain of depression.

♥ To the friend I'm ready to tell about my mental illness.

♥ When I would call my Mom to confess intrusive thoughts.

♥ The article I wish I'd Found When I Googled 'Thinking About Suicide.'

♥ A letter to my past suicidal thoughts.

♥ To my little sister who recently attempted suicide.

♥ To the ex-boyfriend who told me 'it could be worse.'

Chronic Illness, Invisible Illnesses, Illness, and Chronic Pain

♥ 3 words that can make a world of difference to a loved one with a chronic illness.

♥ 3 things I don't want to hear when I share about my chronic pain, (and one thing I do).

♥ 4 things being a chronically ill teenager has taught me.

♥ 6 things people with chronic illnesses are tired of hearing.

♥ 9 things people with rare diseases are tired of hearing.

♥ 10 things I wish I knew as a teenager after a chronic illness diagnosis.

♥ 10-year-old designs bathroom sign for people with invisible conditions.

♥ 12 mantras people with chronic illnesses use to get through tough days.

♥ 12 people describe what it's like to live with chronic pain.

♥ 15 people reveal the most shocking thing someone's said about their chronic illness.

♥ 16 clever ways people describe their chronic conditions.

♥ 17 ridiculous things I've said due to brain fog.

♥ 17 texts people with chronic illnesses would love to get after cancelling plans.

♥ 18 things people with chronic illness wish their doctor would say.

♥ 19 people with invisible illnesses describe what it feels like to be 'invisible'.

♥ 20 ways I 'fake' my chronic illness symptoms.

♥ 21 little things partners have done for their loved ones with chronic illness.

♥ 25 secrets of people with chronic illnesses.

♥ 26 people with fibromyalgia give advice to those newly diagnosed.

♥ 28 people with chronic illnesses explain what 'brain-fog' feels like to them.

♥ 30 things people with fibromyalgia really want for Valentine's Day.

♥ 33 people with chronic illnesses share the best advice they've received.

♥ What I wish people knew about my illness, even when I look fine.

♥ To the person who doesn't know what life with chronic illnesses is like.

♥ When I run out of 'spoons', this is what my day is like.

♥ To the people who think my pain is no big deal.

♥ The one thing chronic illness cannot steal.

♥ The phrase I don't want to hear as someone living with chronic pain.

♥ If you chronic illness could text you, it might look like this.

♥ To the person who just got a diagnosis that came out of nowhere.

♥ To the woman who will be changed forever by your chronic pain diagnosis.

♥ To a friend with a chronic illness who's feeling hopeless.

♥ To the person with a chronic illness who doesn't feel strong right now.

♥ To the person with chronic illness who feels like you're falling behind.

♥ When chronic pain is lonely.

♥ Why I'm no longer angry at the friends who drifted out of my life when I got sick.

♥ To the person with an invisible illness who has 'that friend'.

♥ To my friends who stick up for my chronic illnesses.

♥ To the one who helps me cope with chronic illness.

♥ I have chronic illnesses, but I don't always want your help.

♥ When you have to call in sick to work but 'look fine'.

♥ To the people who think I'm 'off' work when dealing with chronic illness.

♥ To the person who told me 'you look too well-presented to be sick.'

♥ To the people who think I'm not in pain because I'm smiling.

♥ To the person who told me my chronic illness is all in my head.

♥ When you find out the chronic pain you feel isn't all in your head.

♥ To the people who think I'm 'faking' my invisible illness, thank you.

♥ The Facebook message that showed me how unaccepting people can be of invisible illness.

♥ What you see and don't see about the woman in this photo.

♥ Why I wish I'd opened up to the flight attendant about my invisible illness.

♥ To the loved ones of a person with chronic pain.

♥ To friends and family who aren't sure what to say to loved ones with chronic illnesses.

♥ The awkward question I wished my loved ones wouldn't ask about my chronic illness.

♥ What I heard when my friend commented 'you poor thing.'

♥ Please stop saying 'at least it's not cancer'.

♥ When people tell me my goals aren't big enough.

♥ When chronic illness makes you feel like a flake.

♥ If Meghan Trainor's 'Dear Future Husband' was written by someone with fibromyalgia.

♥ A letter from your friend with fibromyalgia.

♥ An apology letter to my body with chronic pain.

♥ My strategy for coping with chronic pain on a daily basis.

♥ When I stopped fighting Chronic pain and began living.

♥ When you're 30th birthday doesn't involve fancy attire- or pants.

♥ In stunning photos, woman reveals condition she's kept hidden for decades.

♥ When a wonderful lady told me why she thinks I'm inspiring.

♥ Why I stopped saying what I have is CFS.

♥ What my parents told me whenever I felt 'different' from other kids.

♥ When you pressure yourself to be a success story of your illness.

♥ What does it mean to be 'rare'?

♥ This girl bleeds from her eyes and nobody knows why. (Warning: graphic photos).

♥ To the doctor who said 'you're too young for this'.

♥ When a doctor said my fibromyalgia treatment was 'hilarious'.

♥ A doctor's view of patients with chronic pain disease.

♥ It happened to me; my miscarriage caused cancer.

♥ Cancer has never looked so beautiful.

♥ This is the sickening wedding 'gift' the UK government just gave a dying woman.

♥ Terminally ill cancer patient stripped of her benefits because she is 'not disabled enough'.

Disability

♥ To the people who think there is always a visible sign of disability.

♥ Living my life in the grey area of disability.

♥ Parents disgusted after quadruple amputee son's disability was questioned.

♥ Woman with EDS fires back after being accused of misusing disabled parking.

♥ When you're too scared to use your disability parking permit.

♥ To the person who parked in between the handicapped spots.

♥ 7 awkward situations I've been put in to as a legally blind person.

♥ Woman's very clever tattoo reminds people she's deaf in one ear.

♥ Watch the moment this deaf woman hears her boyfriend for the first time... but there's a twist.

♥ To the man at Walmart who laughed at the woman stuttering.

Faith In Humans Restored

♥ 6 amazing moments of human connection that will have you reaching for the tissues.

♥ 9 acts of kindness that have brought be joy in the midst of pain.

♥ 16 simple but unforgettable random acts of kindness witnessed in a hospital.

♥ When a nurse's kind acts gave me one of my best hospital experiences.

♥ When a stranger noticed me in front of a broken elevator.

♥ Why the selfless acts of others helped my family heal after 9/11.

♥ Mother and 2-year-old daughter fighting cancer together find selfless use of their time.

♥ 12 year old cancer patient uses his 1 wish to feed hospital patients and staff.

♥ Couple hid this note around the house for each other, but what followed is heart breaking.

Animals

♥ 101 cats snuggling with stuffed animals.

♥ A baby otter that loves snuggling with stuffed animals- and then drowning them!

♥ A lion, a tiger, and a bear (oh my!) who haven't left each other's sides for fifteen years.

♥ A happy ending for Anubis the dog who had his nose cut off because he barked, and was left to roam the city streets alone. (Warning: the photos of his disfigurement might upset or cause distress to anybody with a heart, as he is missing his entire top jaw / snout).

♥ Dog noticed his owner was sad, so he brought her a potato to cheer her up.

♥ This pregnant dog did the best maternity photo shoot you'll ever see.

♥ Purple kitten once used as a 'chew toy' makes stunning transformation.

♥ Norway's radioactive reindeer.

♥ Divers shocked to find dugongs trapped in cages under water.

♥ This guy can't stop saving animals and the photos are pure joy.

♥ Animal shelter gets robbed and the most beautiful thing happens.

♥ Underwear stealing cat leads to the funniest flyer ever written.

♥ 19 pictures of hedgehog bellies that prove everyone has a soft side.


Other


♥ 11 things that happened in Home Alone that would never happen now.

♥ An eerily similar replica of the Titanic is due to set sail in 2018.

Thanks for reading!

Have you read anything good lately that you think I should read? Feel free to leave me links in the comments below. 

Wednesday Wish List

Here are some of the lovely things on my wish list this week...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 
15 // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 // 25 // 26

I'm mostly lusting after a rainbow of beautiful dresses from Dolly and Dotty, several colourful patterned bags and purses from Accessorize, and a couple of dozen new brooches and earrings from Erstwilder. Just a regular week in Louise land, then.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18

I've also been coveting all of these beautiful pieces of jewellery from an independent British brand called Finest Imaginary, who I recently discovered on Etsy. They sell the most amazing selection of affordable nature-themed jewellery, pins, and accessories. My favourites are the beluga whale necklace, and the arctic hare and prickly pear cacti brooches.

If you'd like to see more of the clothes and accessories that catch my eye, check out my style wish list boards on Pinterest. I pin pieces I like as and when I find them, and most never make it on to the blog.

What's on your wish list this week?

Wednesday Wish List

Just a quick one from me today, as I currently have a hyperactive puppy causing havoc at my feet, and playing tug-of-war with the dress I'm wearing. I think it's time I let her back outside to burn off some of that energy before I'm gnawed to shreds.

So, here are some of the pieces I've been lusting after this week...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18

If you'd like to see more of the clothes and accessories that catch my eye each week, check out my style wish list boards on Pinterest. There are several that I pin to regularly, as and when I find something awesome.

What's on your wish list this week?