Polka Spots and Freckle Dots

Sunday, 19 February 2017

Sunday Favourites #225

Who's up for another round of my Sunday Favourites?

I love this mystical sphinx cat and Siamese fighting fish pins from Clorty Cat Crafts. I've actually kept several Siamese fighting fish as pets over the years, but they're so difficult to keep alive for more than a few months. It's a shame because they're beautiful.

This patch by Darling Distraction makes me chuckle. Cat-callers, beware!

How uplifting are these colourful confetti soaps?!

These DIY pom pom storage boxes are so fun and eye-catching. I'd love to make some for storing my stationery and other random crap I have lying around.

It would never have occurred to me to make a mini bouquet, but after seeing Oh Joy!'s DIY on how to make mini bouquets, I really want to.

These DIY yarn cross stitch tags from Handmade Charlotte are really cute.

I love the look of these pastel fairy lights from Talking Tables.

Take me to Panama- it looks like paradise!

We shall be different and we shall love our bodies!

Korean designer Saerom Yoon designs coloured resin tables in pastel-coloured gradients to resemble crystals, and the result is amazing!

I don't care if this troll party is designed as a kids party; this photo is so appealing and inspiring, and the troll cookies are adorable. Troll dolls were the best, weren't they?!

That is one pretty office space.

I would totally make this Valentine's Day cookie cake for someone. It's so my humour.

These pieces of easy sunset wall art are so simple but so pretty. I might have to try this at some point.

I love this rainbow table runner.

This no bake oreo funfetti ice box cake looks delicious.

It's official: baby otters are the cutest.

Beautiful tattoos by Martyna Popiel.

And some seriously gorgeous embroideries from Tessa Perlow Inc.

Lovely Links

♥ The stray dog that wandered in to a police station and got himself a job.

♥ Why I feel jealous of healthy people as someone who is sick.

♥ What we need to remember about people living with chronic pain.

♥ What I want to tell well-intentioned friends who say I look healthier.

♥ To the strangers in Whole Foods who surrounded me after my father's death.

♥ The mystery surrounding the missing woman found wandering along the motorway

♥ 150 year old wedding dress lost at dry cleaners in Edinburgh.

♥ The town with the world's most romantic postmark.

♥ Reunited after 65 years, and more remarkable love letters.

♥ This abandoned Pennsylvania town has been on fire for 53 years. And it could burn for another 250 years.

♥ Waking up under the surgeon's knife.

♥ This fan theory about Aunt Petunia from Harry Potter could change everything.

♥ This water slide in the Maldives goes straight in to the sea, and it's amazing.

If you'd like to see my daily favourites, why not give me a follow on Pinterest and / or Tumblr. You can also find all past Sunday Favourites posts here.

Thanks for reading!

75 Things That Inspire Me

It's been a while since I last shared a list, so it's time for a new one. Here's a list of 75 little things that inspire me in life.

1. Beautiful photos.
2. Rainy days.
3. Good books.
4. Moodboards.
5. Other bloggers.
6. People with chronic illnesses, conditions, and disabilities who are going through hell on a daily basis but are still smiling and doing great things in spite of it.
7. People who have or are battling depression and anxiety- they're some of the strongest people out there.
8. Colour.
9. Concerts and gigs / live music.
10. Going to see musicals at the theatre. I love ma a good musical.
11. Nature.
12. Being out in the countryside.
13. Being on the beach, with my feet in the surf, feeling the pull of the tides, and looking out at an endless expanse of sea.
14. Being in fast-paced cities. The hustle and bustle, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the architecture, the unique people... everything's so exciting compared to my small town life.
15. Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr.
16. Articles, news, and blog posts.
17. People who fight for the rights of others.
18. Music.
19. Song lyrics.
20. Perfectly-styled flatlays.
21. Animals.
22. Life in general.
23. Art.
24. Photography.
25. History.
26. Cemeteries.
27. My family and friends.
28. The world, as a whole.
29. Documentaries about interesting things.
30. Blogging.
31. Organ donors and people who give blood and bone marrow. So selfless but so important.
32. People who do random acts of kindness for others.
33. Crafters; people who can design and make beautiful things.
34. Charities raising money for good causes.
35. Animal rescue and rehabilitation centres, shelters, and charities that save the lives of sick, injured and neglected animals and find good homes for abandoned pets.
36. Kind and caring people.
37. The night sky, looking up at the stars and contemplating existence.
38. Hard-working people.
39. Make up artists with exceptional talent.
40. Old couples holding hands and still doting on each other after a life time together.
41. Being near the sea, rivers, lakes, and streams in the great outdoors. I don't know why, but it does.
42. Pretty views.
43. Gorgeous sunsets.
44. Intelligence.
45. Creative people.
46. How amazing our world is.
47. How incredible it is that humans have created so many amazing things from scratch like cameras, computers, electricity, central heating, vehicles, rockets, bombs... It amazes me how smart our minds are and that these inventions were possible to make.
48. Pretty flowers.
49. My best friend; her strength, her positive attitude towards life, her work ethic, her drive, her support for others, her love for her son, her take-no-crap-from-anyone attitude...she's inspiring in so many ways.
50. My senses.
51. Cornwall.
52. Perranporth Beach in Cornwall. Actually, just any pretty sandy beach.
53. London.
54. New York.
55. Beautiful places.
56. Tragedy and the way people work or come together after one..
57. Sunshine.
58. Museums and galleries.
59. Writers.
60. Artists.
61. People-watching.
62. Survival in the face of adversity.
63. Light seeping through trees in the Summer.
64. Creative writing.
65. Springtime, when everything is coming back to life after a long barren Winter.
66. Old photos.
67. Movies.
68. Walks in the countryside.
69. Travelling.
70. Road trips.
71. Body positivity and people with body confidence.
72. Laughter.
73. Fashion.
74. Documenting stuff.
75. Writing lists.

What inspires you?

Wednesday Wish List

This week's Wednesday Wish List is all about the fifties-style / rockabilly dresses (plus one top and a pair of shorts). It wasn't intentional; it just turns out some of my favourite rockabilly brands released some stunners this week, and with so many of them capturing my heart, I didn't feel the need to look elsewhere all that much. I added more than enough clothes to my wish list this week than I'll ever be able to buy.

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I adore Collectif's new Flamingo Island print, and would happily buy one of everything it's been made in to. Obviously, my favourite is the Mainline Dolores Gypsy Dress (#1). No explanation needed.

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Lady Vintage have just released their Hepburn dresses in a bunch of new prints, and they are all so beautiful. I'm particularly smitten with the lemon (#1) and mesmerising macaw (#6) print numbers, although the love birds (#2) print is adorable, too.

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Lady V's new tea dress prints are even prettier. I need the banana (#1), toucan (#2), and flamingo (#5) print versions in my life!

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For the 6592th week in a row, Lindy Bop have added a few dozen amazing new dresses and skirts to their incredible collection, and I have fallen in love with just about all of them. There are so many fantastic new pieces this week that I couldn't narrow down my favourites to less than these twenty! They're all perfect and would make one hell of a Spring / Summer wardrobe!

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And Dolly and Dotty's latest floral and polka dot 'May' v-neck swing dresses are to die for. Dresses 3, 4, and 5 are my favourites of the six.

To see more of the clothes and accessories on my wish list, check out my style wish list boards on Pinterest. You can also find all previous wish list posts here.

What's on your wish list this week?

Sunday Favourites Valentine's Day Special #224

As it's two days 'til Valentine's Day, I decided to make this week's Sunday Favourites a Valentine's Special. Don't worry if V-Day isn't really your thing; it's not mine, either- it's just a good excuse to gather together cute heart-shaped stuff, pretty girlie things, and tasty treats. If it gives you some Valentine's inspiration, too, that's just a bonus!

These DIY mini heart banners are so cute. I want to make one!

3 steps for throwing the a perfect Galentine's Day. The decorations are so pretty.

I love these DIY Valentine's Day gift baskets. I want to make some to store my bits and bobs in.

DIY Emoji heart chocolates for the emoji loving ladies in your life.

This Galentine's Day photo booth background is really fun. I love the hot pink table decor, too.

These red velvet cheesecake cookie cups looks amaaaazing!

I need some DIY double heart flower vases in my life.

I've never attempted to make soap before, but I want to now I've found this DIY for conversation heart soap pops.

These DIY Valentine's Day surprise boxes are adorable. I so want to make something like this next time I send a friend a parcel in the mail.

Vintage Valentine heart boxes for your inner Elle Woods or Sandy Olsen.

Sugary sweet DIY conversation heart bags.

I want to make a printable Valentine's Day mail box, but to have as an awesome piece of home decor or for storage instead of V-Day purposes. Isn't it pretty?!