Birthday Wish List

It's been a minute since I last shared a wish list on the blog, and with family asking for present ideas for my birthday this weekend, I thought it would be fun to put a little birthday wish list together.

I like to blog a birthday wish list every year, but they're always just for fun. I might show it to family if they ask for ideas or buy one or two things from it if I'm gifted any money for my birthday, but I never expect to receive anything from it. It's merely a most-wanted wish list to daydream about and remind myself what I have my eye on. Plus it allows me to share my cool finds with you that I think you might like, too, which I love to do.

This year, my birthday wish list is a typical mix of quirky resin brooches, fun bags and purses, books, dresses, beauty, and more. They're mostly things I want, but a few things I need, and it's a fun, light-hearted mix. The red panda brooch, Robin Hood wallet, and The Severed Moon journal are my ultimate favourites.

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

1. I love the look of this beautiful guided journal, The Severed Moon, from the author of Shadow and Bone.

2. This red panda brooch from the Erstwilder x Pete Cromer Wildlife collection is a little work of art, and still at the top of my brooch wish list.

3. Lady Vintage Lyra dresses are a favourite of mine, and this new passion-fruit-printed number looks so fun and summery.

4. Robin Hood has always been one of my favourite Disney films, so this Loungefly wallet is everything. It even had Skippy and his siblings, the little turtle, and Clucky, Maid Marian's lady-in-waiting, on it!!

5. The matching Loungefly Robin Hood backpack is also amazing. Though, do I really need two Loungefly Robin Hood backpacks??

6. Speaking of bags, how cute is this Corner Shop pouch bag from Vendula London? The bunting detail and pick 'n' mix stand are so cute.

7. I love a good hot air balloon, and the Erstwilder Around the World brooch from their recent Fan Favourites collection is so pretty. I think this recolouring might be better than the original.

8. I really want a new pair of Converse low tops for kicking about in on comfy days. I've not had a new pair in over a decade! At the moment I'm drawn to this red pair...

9.... and these gorgeous dark green ones. I used to love my old green high-tops.

10. I'd still love to add this Erstwilder x Wizard of Oz Toto brooch to my collection. Who doesn't love a terrier in a basket??

11. I've been a bit obsessed with the Shadow and Bone books lately, and now I've exhausted the Grishaverse, I'd really like to try some of Leigh Bardugo's other books, like Ninth House, as I enjoy her witty writing style.

12. The Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray is amazing, and I could do with a new bottle after recently using the last of mine up.

13. It's hard to say if this dress will be as pretty in person or even suit me, but this Yours floral smock dress looks so lovely and summery.

14. How cute is this set of pastel nail polishes from Nails Inc? It's reminds me of a set of pastel nail polishes I had from New Look in the late nineties which were scented like ice cream!

15. I don't need another wallet, but this Loungefly Alice in Wonderland classic book zip wallet is so tempting. Alice in Wonderland is another of my all time favourite Disneys.

16. Another Erstwilder x Pete Cromer brooch I've got my beady little eyes on is this funky little Patient Panda. I definitely need a panda in my brooch zoo.

17. I know this bag has popped up on a few of my wish lists over the years, but I'd still love to get the Zatchels Sugarcube bag in red. I have one in oxblood, which is great for A/W, but too dark for S/S, so I'd love a brighter colour for the warmer seasons. They're fantastic little bags.

18. The YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer is the best primer I've ever tried, but I used mine up ages ago, so I'd love a new bottle. It's not cheap, though, so I'm probably dreaming.

19. I'm in love with this Joe the Monkey Lover brooch from Erstwilder- another Fan Favourites recolouring. What girl doesn't need a glittery monkey in a pair of glasses in her jewellery box?!

20. I've wanted a new speaker for a while, as I don't have anything to play my music off of upstairs, except for straight off my laptop or phone. This Emma Bridgewater bluetooth heart-print radio looks ideal, and so pretty, too.

21. I love the look of these green wide fit leather espadrilles from Simply Be. Simple but cute.

22. And how incredible is this Loungefly Care Bears mini backpack?! It would've made the coolest school bag in the eighties.

And that's my birthday wish list for 2022.

What's on your wish list right now?

Erstwilder x The Wizard of Oz

We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Well, actually I'm here to talk brooches while you read through a screen, but wouldn't it be cool if we could travel somewhere over the rainbow, past the Munchkin City, and along the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz? I've always wanted to go, but then again, I'm also put off by the threat of flying monkeys. Maybe Chernobyl would be better?

Anyway, the reason I'm waffling on like a lunatic about a world paved in yellow bricks is that a few weeks ago, Erstwilder released the most amazing licensed Wizard of Oz collection, immortalising one of the world's most beloved films in resin and fabric. There are brooches and necklaces, earrings and scarves, and even enamel pins, and let me tell you, the designs are spectacular. If you're a fan of the movie, do yourself a favour and check them out! 

The Wizard of Oz has been one of my favourite musicals since I was little and it's one I still love to watch every year, so I was naturally super excited by this collection, and it sure didn't disappoint. I could've happily bought the entire collection.

A few of my favourites.

There were several brooches from this collection that particularly captured my heart- the Emerald City, Toto, the Ruby Slippers, the Wicked Witch of the East's dead striped legs- but choosing was hard- I could only afford one piece.  I missed out on my favourite, the Emerald City brooch, because I forgot to set my alarm and it sold out everywhere before morning- as did many of the others- but luckily, I got my hands on my other favourite, the Crystal Ball brooch.

Look how cool it is!

It's a reimagining of the Wicked Witch of the West's crystal ball, which, as you may remember from the movie, she uses to keep a close eye on Dorothy and her friends as they travel to the Emerald City. Guided by the witch's glittery emerald green hand, it features a black silhouette of The Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Dorothy, and Toto skipping along the yellow brick road in a swirl of iridescent ice and duck egg blues, with subtle hints of gold and amethyst purple mixed in to the resin. The marbled resin is stunning, and stands out beautifully against the glittery teal used for the background, and the brown wood-effect resin chosen for its base. It's such a fun and unique piece of jewellery, and I can't stop wearing it.

My sister likes it so much she's already attempted to steal it from my hands, so I've had to buy her her own for her birthday. It seemed easier than keeping mine under lock and key for the rest of my life. Hers has more purple in the marbled resin, and it's interesting to see how different the cut of the resin can make two brooches of the same design look.

The Crystal ball brooch is still available from Erstwilder, and several of their UK stockists (including Daisy Park, Piccadilly Lily, and Rockamilly), as are many of the other designs from the range, so snap up your favourites while you can. I still have my eye on a few pieces, including the Toto, and Tin Woodman brooches.

I can't leave without taking a moment to point out how pretty the packaging is for this collection. If you're an Erstwilder collector, you'll know that they usually redesign their packaging to compliment their collections, and The Wizard of Oz collection has been given a gorgeous emerald green and gold design, in homage to the Emerald City. I'm a sucker for emerald green, so it gets two thumbs up from me. 

Just like the whole collection and my beautiful brooch.

I can't wait to see what Erstwilder come up with next.

Did you buy anything from the Erstwilder x Wizard of Oz collection? Which piece(s) would you choose?

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Holidaying in Cornwall During The Pandemic 2021

In September, I finally made it back to Cornwall for another holiday- and only a year later than planned (thanks, Covid). 

It was my first holiday in four years, and only my second in over a decade, so it was a long over-due, and much needed break. The trip already seems like so long ago, but with the cold weather creeping in again, I can't help but long for those lazy, late summer days by the sea. Luckily, I don't have too long to wait for another taste of it, as we're heading back to Cornwall again this summer, but while I impatiently count down the days, I thought I'd reminisce about last year's holiday with some blog posts about my week away. Well, I have been meaning to write about my holiday since last autumn! 

My older sister and I spent a week down in Perranporth in north Cornwall, a place we've been visiting since we were babies. Our parents actually had their honeymoon in the area in the seventies, and our family have holidayed there ever since. We've been so many times, it's more like a second home to us than a holiday spot, but we love the place, and never get bored of visiting it. So many people turn up their noses at the thought of holidaying in England and saw staycations as a consolation prize when they couldn't travel abroad during the height of the pandemic, but we purposefully choose to take holidays to Cornwall now and then, and have always enjoyed these trips as much as any holiday abroad. Those who don't see the appeal in English holidays have clearly never visited the coast in Cornwall when the sun is shining. With its golden sandy beaches and pretty harbour villages, rugged coastlines, and green countryside, it's such a beautiful part of England, and I can honestly say it's one of my favourite places in the world. 

We had a lovely week chasing the last of the summer sun; sitting on the sea front watching the waves and eating copious amounts of ice cream, revisiting some favourite places, eating delicious local foods, and relaxing to the sound of the seagulls. We visited beautiful Padstow; took a tour bus along the coast from Perranporth to St. Ives; sat on Porth and Perranporth Beach sea fronts, visited Newquay Zoo, paddled in the sea, gambled pennies in the arcades on rainy afternoons, cruised along coastal roads, and explored some of the countryside where the roads were as narrow as paths. It was blissful.

We couldn't take as many day trips or spend as much time on the beach as I would've liked, but that's okay. We had to do things a little differently with both of us challenged with chronic pain, and nobody to pick up the slack of driving and heavy-lifting when we were low on spoons, as my brother-in-law was away on a deployment in The Falklands. We were sensible and fit in more rest and relaxation time, and stayed locally instead of exploring further afield most of the time, so that we could make it home again in one piece at the end of the week. It was the right balance for us, and sometimes restful holidays are exactly what you need.

The best fried breakfast I've ever eaten from Gridl in Newquay. The little Cornish spinach omelettes were incredible. (I asked for an extra sausage instead of bacon as I hate it, so they gave me both, and Marie got to enjoy extra bacon). They have so many Full English options, and do veggie ones, too. 

I actually enjoyed lounging in our accommodation, this privately-owned, three-bedroomed caravan nestled in a quiet spot in the dunes of Perran Sands, with the doors open to let in the warm sea breeze, and the battle cry of the seagulls overhead. It was lovely to have a change of scenery to resting in my bedroom back home- even if the seats and sofas were so uncomfortable my backside felt bruised by the end of the week. We spent our down time watching movies, eating delicious treats that we picked up on our day trips, and played Animal Crossing, Monopoly, and Rummikub. I wanted to get through a couple of books during our time away, but neither of us could get comfortable enough to read on those God awful chairs. What psychopath decided to make caravan chairs so uncomfortable??

Despite going away in September, we were really fortunate with the weather, and even got several days of blistering sunshine in the low thirties! It was so hot for the first half of the week, it didn't even feel like England, and I came home with a million more freckles from being out in the sun. I'm a freckle magnet. The weather had people flocking to the area, and the beaches and seaside villages were busier than I've seen them since the nineties, when less people holidayed abroad. It was a little stressful to be around such big crowds of (mostly) unmasked people during the pandemic- though I masked up, and we took Covid tests twice to be careful- but also lovely to see so many Brits enjoying the places we've loved all our lives. (Although, I'm sure the locals didn't agree). 

All in all, we had a fantastic holiday in Cornwall, and I loved being back in my second home. I pushed myself to my limits to enjoy as much as possible, and did more that week that I had in years. I can't wait to return again this September, revisit my favourite places, and hopefully get to visit some new ones this time, too. Hurry up September!

I'm going to blog separately about some of the places we visited, including Padstow, Perranporth Beach, Newquay Zoo, and the tour bus trip we took along the coast, so look out for them, coming soon.

Have you ever visited Cornwall? Do you prefer to holiday at home or abroad?

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Cornish Adventures 2017: St. Michael's Mount

Polka Spots and Freckle Dots Turns Ten!

Today, my little place on the Internet turned ten years old! 

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe I've been blogging here for a whole decade. Okay, not quite a whole decade; days and weeks have passed in between posts, especially over the last few years, but  I've blogged at least once a month since I started my blog, and I think that's an accomplishment to be proud of. There aren't many hobbies I've committed myself to for so long- probably because it's had a different purpose to most of the others.

When I created Polka Spots and Freckle Dots a decade ago, I didn't dream of making money from blogging, accumulating 'freebies', or becoming famous. I simply needed a distraction from living housebound with chronic pain, and wanted something to throw myself in to every day so that I had a reason to get up in the morning. I'd been housebound with chronic spinal pain for six months at that point, and, as you can imagine, I was frustrated, and going stir crazy. There's only so much reading and watching day time TV you can do day after day before you start losing the will to live.

I began reading body positivity and plus size fashion blogs soon after I got sick as a way to pass the time, and it was those blogs that inspired me to start sharing my own outfits online, hopeful that maybe it could also help me work towards finding some body confidence and self-acceptance. So, one late March evening in 2012, I finally swallowed my nerves, signed up to Blogger, wrote a quick introductory post, and hit publish before I could change my mind. And the rest, as they say, is history.

I never thought for a moment that I would still be blogging here an entire decade later, but I didn't think my life would turn out the way it has, either. Life is full of surprises.

Since the start, my blog has been so much more than just a hobby to me. At the risk of sounding cheesy, it's been a life line for me during ten of the most difficult years of my life. It's helped me cope with having chronic pain and illness, and the God awful symptoms that come along with it. It gave me an outlet while I came to terms with having my whole life turned upside down, and learned to get used to a new reality. It was there while I fought for diagnosis, went through scans and treatments, got diagnosed, and had frustrating or upsetting appointments with doctors and the DWP.  It's kept me occupied during countless lonely hours spent on bed rest, and given me something to throw myself in to every day; helping to keep the boredom at bay, and my brain working. It's provided me with a place to express myself and use my creativity, learn new skills, and challenge myself. It led me to some wonderful friends and readers I would never have known if it weren't for blogging, and helped me cope with the isolation and loneliness of living housebound. And for a while, it even helped me gain some body confidence, before I gained weight, and went back to square one. It's been so many things to me over the years, and I'll always be grateful for what it's done for me. I don't know how I would have got through the last ten years without it.

My blog has changed a lot during the last decade, morphing from a mostly plus-size fashion and beauty blog to an everything blog, as my health and finances declined and posing for outfit photos became too painful. I still miss blogging my outfits, but I rarely have the pennies for new clothes these days, so there's little hope of that pastime being revived any time soon.

Over the last ten years, I've written and published 1,642 blog posts- 1,643, if we count this one. That's a whole lotta posts on fashion, beauty, life, adventures, books, crafts, chronic illness, pets, and so much more. I could've churned out a lot more of them, but I've always strived for quality over quantity, and I'm proud of what I've created here. I've not always written the most interesting content, but I've always put 110% in to every blog post, and I like to think the quality of my writing and photos has improved a lot over the years. Of course, there's always been room for improvement, and as long as I'm blogging, I'll never stop working on it.

I may not have become a rich and famous influencer with a huge following, earning millions from my blog and gaining countless sponsorships, but that was never my goal. As nice as they are, likes and money aren't important to me. I've always blogged because I enjoy it, and needed a creative outlet, and would've kept blogging if I was writing for myself. I'm so grateful for the fantastic brands I've worked with and small following I do have, though, and I'm still amazed that anybody wants to read my posts and hear what I have to say. You guys are awesome! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement over the years, and all the kind comments and messages you've left for me. It means a lot.

I know I've not been the best blogger over the last few years, and have posted so sporadically- usually because I've not felt up to it or my brain fog has stolen my ability to string a sentence together- but I'm here trying almost every day. I've come to realise that I just can't create content at the same rate that I used to, no matter how hard I try. I want to keep blogging, and bring Polka Spots back to life with interesting content, and add more lifestyle posts, and reviews of the products I've used and enjoyed, but a few posts a month might be my limit now.  Either way, I'm not planning on going anywhere just yet, and while I have to put my health first, I'll do my best to keep creating whenever I feel up to it.

I've no intention of retiring Polka Spots just yet.

I don't know what the next ten years have in store for me or my blog, but here's hoping I'll still be here blogging, and finding comfort from it for many years to come.

Thanks again for supporting Polka Spots and Freckle Dots over the last decade.

Here's to the next ten years!

Want to go down memory lane with me? Here is a selection of posts from the last ten years:

The Muppets Christmas Carol Christmas Cards by Jenny Grene Illustration

Ten Years With Chronic Pain and Illness

An Accessible Birthday Trip to Whipsnade Zoo

Erstwilder Woodlands Collection

A Socially Distanced Trip to The Cotswold Wildlife Park

Erstwilder Care Bears Collection

What's in my Christmas Eve Box? 2019

Vendula London La Bicyclette de Vendula Box Bag Review*

The World in Stitches Modern Spectrum Mandala Cross Stitch

Cath Kidston Disney Alice in Wonderland Haul

My Handmade Felt Spring Flower Wreaths

How to Make Money Online By Answering Surveys

Cornish Adventures: St Michael's Mount

Cornish Adventures: St. Ives and Seal Island

Urban Decay Full Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette Review

My First Holiday With Chronic Pain

One Year With Rosie

Puppy Spam: Rosie 12-16 Weeks Old

My Quirky Brooch Collection 2016

Puppy Spam: Rosie 10-12 Weeks Old

Book Review: 642 Things to Write About Me

Once upon a Time in London

My Huge Cath Kidston Collection 2015

My Novelty Bag Collection 2015

What I Wore in 2014

Outfit: Red and Yellow Polka Dots

Zatchels Polka Dot Satchel Review

What an MRI Scan is Really Like

Outfit: Hearts and Polka Dots

Cut Make Trim Leather Barrel Bag Review*

Dressing Table Tour 2014: Make Up Storage

Zatchels Classic Satchel Review

Outfit: Coral, Turquoise, Flamingo and Pearls

The One Where it All Began

Six Years With Rosie

On the 1st of March, we marked six years since Rosie, our Tibetan terrier, joined our family.

Six years!

I can't believe how much time has passed since the day we brought our tiny ten-week-old black and white puppy home for the first time. It only feels like a minute since we became first-time dog owners and were enjoying the chaos of life with an adorable hyperactive puppy- or more accurately, a whirlwind with fluff and teeth. Those challenging early days when Rosie loved running off with anything not nailed down, stripping branches off of bushes in the garden, and creeping up on us to nip us with her tiny razor-sharp puppy teeth feel like they happened yesterday. It's crazy that it was over half a decade ago already.  In nine months, she'll be a senior. Can someone please slow down time just a little bit?

She often tilts her head back to watch you while you give her back rubs.

People weren't the only ones with awkward lockdown hair dos when the salons were shut!

The last six years have gone so fast, but it also feels like Rosie has been a part of the family forever. I'd swear she's always been here shadowing every meal, hogging three-quarters of the bed with a leg in my armpit, barking at every squirrel that has the audacity to scurry across her garden, and demanding games of fetch from everyone the moment you enter the house. I can barely remember what life was like before her, and I don't really want to. Life must have been so quiet and dull without her.

Demanding I held her paw

Happy pup after opening presents on her 6th birthday.

Six-year-old Rosie is, thankfully, less hyper and much more chilled than she was as a puppy, but she hasn't lost any of her sass or personality over the years. She's a little weirdo who sits on the sofa like a person, climbs like a mountain goat, and often sleeps with her front legs rigid in the air like no creature I've ever seen. (Does anyone else's dog do this or is mine just weird)? She loves sweetcorn and marrowfat peas, ripping the squeakers out of toys, sleeping on the back of the sofa, and opening presents, and would sell her soul for a tennis ball if she knew what a soul was, or how to bargain with the devil.

'Draw me like one of your French girls.'

I have no idea.

Smiling after opening presents and making a mess on Christmas morning 2021.

She also loves a good cuddle, and would do anything for a back rub or belly rub- but hates her face being touched when she's trying to concentrate on getting a piece of whatever you're eating. There's no time for affection when there's food involved. Priorities, and all that. She's my little snuggle buddy, joining me for a nap when I'm in too much pain to get out of bed- though, she also loves to kick me in the stomach or leg while she's dozing and trying to get comfortable. I'm forever covered in bruises from where she kicks off from my legs, pushing me closer to the edge of the bed each time. I think she's really just trying to kick me off the bed to claim it for herself.

She still makes me smile and laugh every day with her quirky little mannerisms, and all the different barks and noises she makes, chattering to us as if she thinks we speak the same language. She always lets you know when she wants something, be it your food, her daily Denta Stick, when it's time to go out before bed, a random sock on the bench, or the twelfth game of fetch of the day, and each alert is different. If there was an award for the chattiest, most demanding dog, it would go to Rosie, no question. 

Smiling because I had food.

I'll admit, she can be a pain in the butt at times, especially when she won't stop barking, but I wouldn't trade her. She's brought so much to my life these past six years, and makes every housebound day less dull and lonely. She might not always be the best behaved dog, but she's the best, funniest, and most affectionate doggo, and I love that crazy little bark machine, quirks an' all. 

Happy 6th Gotcha Day, Rosie Roo. I hope we get to celebrate many more together.

Other Rosie Posts You Might Enjoy

Four Years With Rosie

Two Years With Rosie

One Year With Rosie

Snow Day 2019

Rosie's First Snow Day

Puppy Spam: Rosie 4-6 Months Old

Puppy Spam: Rosie 12-16 Weeks Old

Puppy Spam: Rosie 10-12 Weeks Old

We're Getting a Puppy!