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Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy 2013


Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Another year, another fresh start, another clean slate. I'm excited. 

I hope that 2012 has been all that you hoped it to be this time last year and that 2013 will be even better.



If you read THIS post, you will see I have a lot of things I want to do and achieve this year and I'm really looking forward to sharing a lot of them with you.

I'm so glad I have you lovely lot in my life. I really am.

Happy New Year to each and every one of you.

xx

Sunday, December 30, 2012

gingham/gingham

Dress: ASOS. Shoes: Miu Miu. Purse: Coach. Sunglasses: Dior. Necklace: Banana Republic (old, similar here). Jewelry: Plukka c/o, David Yurman, Michele.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

A New Year, A New Me?


Aloha Sprinklerinos,

As 2012 draws to a close, I find myself thinking about 2013. What I want to achieve, what changes I want to make and what I want to amend.

If you follow me on twitter, you may have heard, but this week has been pretty poopsicles. I've been suffering with a severe kidney infection which involved a hospital visit, days of bed rest and a LOT of drinking water! Yikes! Slowly but surely I'm feeling on the mend again so I thought I might take this opportunity to talk about New Years Resolutions.

I make them every single year. I feel excited for them every single year. I break them every single year. And yet, for some reason, here I am excitedly making more.

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 (Image :: weheartit.com)

In 2013 I Will ::


Stress Less. As 2012 ticked by, I found myself becoming increasingly anxious about things I didn't need to be worrying over. Little things like having absolutely perfect lighting for videos or replying to as many facebook comments as possible were really weighing on me. When I first realised I could making blogging/vlogging my 'job', I thought it was perfect for 2 reasons. The first being that I could spend 100% of my time with Baby Glitter and the second being the freedom it allowed me. By stressing about every tiny thing, I realise I was removing any of that freedom and making it a really unpleasant experience for myself. In 2013, I'm not going to allow that to happen. If I don't manage to do things, so be it. If my lighting, editing, spelling etc is a little off, then oh well. I never began this journey being perfect and I certainly won't end it that way so I may as well enjoy the happy medium of things. It's going to be a little more old school from now on and I for one can't wait!

Write more beauty reviews on my lovely little blog. I went off writing them last year because I think I had a bit of a crisis of confidence, but 2013 will be the year I spring back with beauty posts galore, just like the golden olden days.

Drink more water. Given the fact that I was hospitalised this week with a water related issue, I think that indicated I need to hydrate myself a LOT more! As well as fending off kidney infections, drinking plenty of water makes you skin, nails and hair happy too.

Make quality Mummy-Darcy time. With life getting as busy as it is, I feel like I don't ever just down tools and play. In 2013 I want to spend proper one on one time with Baby Glitter every single day. Her tiny childhood years won't last forever and I want to cherish every moment of them. 

Loose a stone. It's a classic. No NYR is complete without the old 'loose some weight' one. If I do, hurrah! If I don't, meh. 

Edit Less. Since I learnt how to edit this summer, I've got a bit cut and snip happy! I used to quite enjoy rambling on to the camera for ages about nothing in particular but after a while I thought people might find that quite boring and maybe I should be a bit more like other girls and make shorter more to the point videos. I've decided to find a happy medium. I'm going to do some concise, swishly edited videos and some like ye olden days. That way, you're happy, I'm happy, everyone's happy! Good plan?

Travel. As you may have seen from my three years of blogging, we don't really go on holidays. This year, in October, Matt, Darcy and I plan on going on the holiday of a lifetime to Florida!!! I can't even tell you how much this THRILLS me!! Matt and Darcy have never been to any of the theme parks out there so half the fun for me will be seeing them enjoy it all. We'll hopefully be going with my Dad, his Partner (who is a woman- I said 'partner' in a video recently and had 'good on him for being gay' comments! haha), her 2 children and my sister, so it will be a big family affair and should be amazing!! I'm also hoping to go away with Zoe at some point this year too (maybe Vidcon woop woop) so I best start saving my pennies!!

Decorate. You know when you have six hundred and fifty three frames and ornaments and clocks and things to hang up but you just never do? Well I'm going to!! 

Thrift. I'm taking a leaf out of Mrs Thrifty's book and I'm going to hit the charity shops, car boot sales and jumbles to see what treasures I can find. I'm on the hunt for decorative mirrors (that I promise myself I will hang up immediately), coloured glassware, good condition toys & clothes, books and jewels. Keep your eyes peeled for charity shop hauls!

Well, that's quite a lot to do there, but all positives and all achievable. 

Do you have any resolutions? Have you ever stuck to them for the entire year? If you have, well done!!!

Let me know in the comments and we can jolly each other along a bit!

Toodlepip!

xx

Friday, December 28, 2012

sunshine state

Skirt: Clover Canyon. Shoes: Zara. Sweater: Equipment c/o (also here). Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Super Duper'. Lips: NARS ' Schiap'. Jewelry: JCrew, BaubleBar, Michele, Pomellato, David Yurman.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

airport style

Bag: Frank Clegg c/o. Denim: 7FAM. Boots: Zara. Top: Haute Hippie (old). Jacket: Zara (old). Hat: Eric Javits (also here). Headphones: thanks to Frends. Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Super Duper'. Lips: Make Up Forever #40. Rings: Pomellato, Stella and Dot

All photos thanks to the talented Lydia Hudgens.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

merry mint

Skirt: BHLDN. Sweater: Jcrew. Mint Rings: Coach. Bracelets: Jcrew. Shoes: Jcrew (old). 

All photos thanks to the talented Lydia Hudgens

Sunday, December 23, 2012

lady in lace

Dress: Blaque Label. Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti (old). Purse: Valentino. Jacket: Zara. Sunglasses: Dior. Lips: Make Up Forever Professional #40. Jewelry: David Yurman, Jcrew, Hermes, Pomellato. 

Photos thanks to the talented Lydia Hudgens.

Happy Holidays Sprinklerinos


Aloha Sprinklerinos,

This is a little post from me to say a huge and happy MERRY CHRISTMAS!

<3 never to many ornaments for a tree

I won't stay long because I have dinner in the oven but I wanted to let you know that I will be taking a little bit of time off from blogging. Not very long, a week or so, but I need a rest and want to more spend time looking at my gorgeous family and less time at my laptop screen.

Considering it's Christmas, I don't think you'll miss me- not whilst there are turkeys to be eaten, gifts to be unwrapped and TV to be watched.

I'll be back in the New Year with fresh motivation, tonnes of beauty reviews and a bit more structure to this little slice of the web- hooray!

Until then, Seasons Greetings oh lovely and wonderful Sprinklerinos! May all your festive wishes come true and may you have a wonderful, magical Christmas.

Lots of Love,

Louise

xxxxxxxx

Friday, December 21, 2012

Happy Birthday Mrs Thrifty!!


Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Following on from yesterday's somewhat sombre blog post, I thought it would be nice to put a little pep back in our step and CELEBRATE!

Today, my dear friend El (aka AThriftyMrs) is having a very special birthday- a brand new number! I won't say which one because a lady never tells, but it's a good'un none the less.

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(Image :: weheartit.com)

Thrifty is a good egg. She has battled through more than most and still has the time of day for my piffling phone calls and ridiculous heytell messages. She has the driest sense of humour I've ever come across, an open mind to explore so many fun things in life and a good kind heart. I love her a lotta bit.

I know the term 'internet friend' has a seedy sigma attached, but I am glad every day that I found this amazing lady through the internet and that she allowed me into her life. 

So my thrifty little chum, I hope today is brilliant. I hope this year of your life brings you all the good things your strive for, that Mr Thrifty spoils you rotten and that you have a windfall of utility china in your local charity shop for a mere seven pence!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

If you would like to find out more about my internet friend, or even better, wish her Happy Birthday yourselves, you can find her places (ooer) below (ooer again).


xxxxxxx

Toodlepip!

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is 21st Serendipity . If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE


Thursday, December 20, 2012

twenty twelve

This year has been an amazing adventure- thanks for following along!  Cheers to the next...
XO BEE

Twenty on the Twentieth


Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Yes, it's that day again. The anniversary of my Mum's death. The 20th to be precise. Twenty whole years. Two decades. Almost 3/4 of my entire life. Woah that's a lot. 

I want it to be known that I'm not writing this to gain your sympathy or to be all woe is me. I'm writing this because I like to mark these things. Being a bit weird and anal and not missing these sorts of days brings me an odd sense of calm.



Twenty years is such a long time, a long enough time to get over something. It's long enough for my Dad to re-marry, my Aunties to form better bonds with their other sisters and for my Mum's friend's to loose touch. Occasionally one of them will bring her up in a conversation or make reference to her, but I feel like if I encourage this and really think properly about the loss I feel on a day to day basis, that I'll spiral into a terribly dark hole and not climb out again. I suppose you could call that normal grief but I'm not prepared to wallow in it or spend vasts amount of time feeling it, so back under the rug it goes. How very healthy.

On days like this I always talk about the lovely woman my Mum was. I always try and portray that even though people always say passed away relatives were special, she really was. She was the type that would lend a hand whenever it was needed (seriously, once a bus crashed by our house and before the emergency services arrived, mum had gotten most the passengers off the bus and laid them in our house. Our carpets were ruined with blood but she was given an award from the regional police), laugh when everyone needed a pick-me-up and make even the lowest people feel up again.

She had a steely determination and a wicked sense of humour. When we moved to Northampton, my Mum wanted an older house with character and era appropriate features. My Dad wanted a modern new build full of gadgets and mod-cons. As usual, my Dad won, but just to make her point, Mum filled it to the new build rafters with victorian-esque furniture and dark wood. It was rather a strange mix but demonstrated her, 'Ha! Take That'-ness to a tee.

I miss her everyday. Twenty years is such a long time to think about someone every single day. Sometimes I just see something that reminds me of her, or hear someone shout, 'Jane' and I look round. Other times I feel overwhelmed with heavy sadness, like a cloud passing over a mountain top until it's invisible and feel like I can't take another step forward. 

I was in Euston station a few weeks ago, standing on the forcourt waiting for my train's platform to be announced. I was standing there after a really productive day and I thought to myself, 'I would love to ring Mum and tell her the things I have accomplished today and tell her how proud of myself I am'. And then it hit me. It doesn't matter that I did something really well or clever that day. The last time we had contact I was a child. I was in lower school and my biggest worry was having my bookbag ready for the next day. She would never know that I grew up, started doing things on my own, take myself off to big cities, having meetings with interesting people and sustain my little life. She never saw me pack my own bookbag.

There will always be the people who say, 'I'm sure she's looking down on you'. I'm sure she is too but to be very brutal, it brings me little to no comfort and I think the people who say it feel obliged to say something comforting- I do it myself to people in the same positions! One day I'll say to them, 'Yeah, it's really shitty and I feel for you. I wish I could take the ache away but I can't. I'm sorry' and be done with it. Seems a little harsh though doesn't it?

It's raining today and I told myself I would go to the cemetery to say Hello and lay some flowers. I say this every year and never manage it. It makes me so angry to have to go to a florist to choose the nicest flowers I can find, knowing all I'm going to do is lay them on a bit of grass that has my own mother's bones beneath it. It shouldn't be. Flowers should be in vases, being adored or cherished or photographed (that's the blogger in me). I hate that my flowers have to say, 'I'm sad you're dead but to show how much I care I spent the most I could on flowers that I'll put by your headstone and leave there until the grave keeper comes and removes them and chucks them in a skip, but I love you'. It's not right.

When I get to the cemetery I freak out. I have a phobia of ghosts (don't laugh), so for me, a graveyard is horrific. I get there, park and think, 'Just get out the car and go'. The problem is, to get to her site I have to walk past about 70 other headstones. It's always eerily quiet. You might call it peaceful but I find it unnerving. On top of that, I have this fear that when I get there, I'll cry. Obviously, crying is fine and good for you and a release, but I fear that if I cry there I'll never stop. I'll just sit on the ground feeling angry that rather than looking at my Mum's lovely healthy face, I'm looking at a piece of marble with her name etched into it. It reminds me of her in hospital looking grey and with a turban on to hide the fact that her beautiful hair had all gone. It reminds me that she had hoped so desperately to have a private nurse look after her at home for just one day at Christmas so we could have those memories and that it never happened. It reminds me that I never got to say a proper goodbye and that now I'm sat, 20 years older with a Daughter of my own and I'm starring at a piece of cold marble and wondering how I will ever overcome this. 

I wont. 

I will just learn to live with a Mum shaped hole in my life and will get on. 

I'm going to mark today, acknowledge it and accept it as being totally shit. Then tomorrow, I will get up, put on nice makeup and be glad it's nearly Christmas and that I'm healthy and that I have a great Husband and Daughter and family and amazing friends. Two of my friends actually offered to come with me to the grave (knowing my fear of ghosts) and I was incredibly touched. If you're reading, 'tang'. :)

If you have a Mum, go and tell her what she means to you, or just give her the hug I'd like to give mine.

x

Diana Jane Pentland 1955-1992

x

PS- This post has not been re-read through or spell checked. I just wrote it as I thought it and that will do. I may well take it down in a few days, but it was therapeutic to pour it all out onto paper (screen). 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Amazing Advertisers & SALE || December


Aloha Sprinklerinos, 

Oohhhh, it's Christmas! Since it is the time of festive joy and jingle bells, I'm having my first ever Advertiser Sale!

I am offering 20% off ALL advertising packages from now until Christmas Day. All you need to do is enter the promo code FESTIVEGLITTER20 at the til when you book. Hurrah for sales!! 




If you would like to advertise on this blog (you can feature your blog, handmade business or youtube channel), click HERE for more information and details. Spaces are filling up fast and there are only limited spots. Sorry!


If you love all things gorgeous and homey, then I think you'll like this blog. Racheal shares lovely posts and fantastic pictures (often starring the most beautiful woofy friend) about her life, thoughts and day to days. It's like cosying up by a warm fire in blog form. Go and roast your totsies!


You know when something just tickles you and you can't help but smile? That's how I felt about Alexandra's 'Life Reciepe'. It is very witty and realistic (I certainly felt I could relate to it) and definitely something you should have a read of.  There are also giveaways, chats and pinterest festivities. Everyone's a winner!


I've known Stephanie for years (thanks to a rather smashing blog event where I was billy-no-mates and she very kindly chatted to me!) and have loved watching her blog grow and develop. Primarily a fashion/OOTD style site, Stephanie Dreams is also sprinkled with lifey posts, beautiful photos and blog event write-ups. Why this blog doesn't have more followers I do not know. Let's get her to 2000.


Tasha writes a blog reviewing beauty products, providing really cool nail tutorials (like cupcakes?) and also featuring some of her 'get ready with me' style videos. What I have enjoyed most about Tasha's blog though is the 'and that's who I am feature', which she is running every weekend. The idea is to give us a little more insight into who she is but it's the imagery that pleases me the most- I too am a 'night blogger' with a penchant for twinkle lights. :) .


Emilly has advertised on Sprinkle of Glitter for quite some time now and it has been lovely to have her. Her blog is professional, uncluttered and full of posts from a variety of genres. As the name would suggest, this blog is about everything that Emily Hearts, with a few guest posts thrown in for good measure. Also, Emily has just been proposed to. Can we all say, 'Awwee'? :)

Katie's blog is a lovely site documenting her outfits of the day (OOTD in case you're unfamiliar) and a little bit about her life, thoughts and moods to accompany it. All the photos are clear, unflustered (so you can very clearly see the clothing pieces), well lit so the colours look correct and we are also provided with close ups. A very, very good fashion blog. You'll feel inspired.


I've said it before and I'll say it again. I bloomin' well love this blog. Don't sit here listening to me tell you about it, just go and look at it now!! To summarise (in case you are still reading) : Amazing tips, ideas, beautiful photos, well written, cosy, happy, GO AND READ IT. 


Brace yourselves, we have a boy blogger! A Sprinkle of Glitter first! Tom writes about all that interests him, as well as having a YouTube Channel too. Despite being poorly this month (I know that feeling far too well), Tom has put up some lovely posts with gorgeous photos to boot. If you would like to read a well written blog that is different to the usual girlie kinds (although fabulous too), then you'll really love Daydream in Blue. 

Stacie is currently waiting for a heart and lung transplant due to suffering from Pulmonary Hypertension. Her blog is a documentation of her highs and lows, thoughts and feelings. I love having a window into Stacie's life and seeing all the fun things she does. Also, I was really glad she went to her Christmas Do. You go girlfriend! *Clicks fingers about with sass*

Ellen has a small deer in her banner. Do I need to go further than that? Really? OK. This blog is oh so pretty, oh so helpful and oh so addictive. Please go and look immediately! Also, Ellen has launched a new site to sell her blog design services so that might be of interest to you too. 

Laura is our only YouTuber this month and is advertising her channel. Laura makes beauty and fashion videos galore! There are hauls, OOTD's, storage ideas and tags. If you are a watcher rather than a reader, you may well enjoy her chatty little slice of the web. Yay!


Paige's blog is a very pink, very girlie place that she can share her love of all things beauty with us. Just like me, Paige is a total Lush-aholic and has shared with us her thoughts on the products she has tried. Paige also has a YouTube channel which you can find linked in her perfectly pink blog. :) 

And that's all folks.

I hope you feel that you have learnt a little more about the gals and guys down the sidebar and I look forward to another month of fabulous new reads.

Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is 21st Serendipity . If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

party pants

Pants: ASOS. Jacket: Zara. Sweater: Everlane. Shoes: Zara. Purse: Gucci c/o. Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Super Duper. Necklace: Saks 5th (old). Nails: POP 'Mint Magic'. Ring: YSL.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

all of the brights

Skirt: Tibi (also here). Sweater: Jcrew. Shoes: Zara (old). Jacket: Malene Birger (similar here). Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Lips: NARS 'Schiap'. Nails: POP Mint Magic. Purse: Ann Taylor (last seen here). Jewelry: Michele Watch, Jcrew, Stella and Dot, Pomellato, David Yurman.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Winter Mini Happies 2012


Aloha Sprinklerinos,

It has been a running theme throughout the lifetime of this blog, but something I like to talk about are my Mini Happies. 

Mini Happies are the little tiny things that make you smile and put a bit of pep in your step, and I like to make a big thing out of them. It is natural that we crave huge, enormous, crazy amazing things in our lives, but I truly believe that it is the little things that make life special and feel it would be a shame not to give them the honour they deserve.

Photo: Jack Frost has been again ❄⛄❄ Ohhhhh I do love this instagram malarky! Follow me @Sprinkleofglitr
(Taken from my Instagram album on FACEBOOK)

My Winter Mini Happies

* Good TV. I don't know about you but I think TV has picked up a bit recently. I'm not usually a tele watcher (what with my terrible internet addiction), but with programmes like An Idiot Abroad 3, Kirsty's Vintage Home and Supersize Earth, I've been quite enjoying what's on the box.

* Frost Mornings. It really pleases me to go downstairs in the mornings and see the garden and fence and shed and washing line covered in sparkling white frost. It's nature's glitter.

* Veggies. Yep, I did just say vegetables. I made a conscious effort a few weeks ago to eat more of them and now I have found if I don't have some every day that I crave them. Hooray for nutrition!

* London. I have been to London for various things a few times lately and really enjoyed every trip. I'm not sure if it's because I was with good friends or because I was doing exciting things, but either way, it made me really happy. 

* Skype. The online communication software (fancy) is my portal to the world sometimes. It allows me to chat away to friends and family for free and gives my brain a bit of a break from real life. Lovely.

* Decorations. Nothing makes me smile more than seeing people's Christmas lights in their front windows or opening freshly delivered Christmas cards. I'm so looking forward to Christmas (although, still not as hyped up as usual. Very odd!). 

* Good News. A couple of my friends who so desperately needed it have had good news this month. Whether it's improved finances, new arrivals or being in good relationships, I'm happy their world's are oh-so-bright for them. Warm fuzzies all round. 

Photo: Poorly but loving (and insisting on her accessories haha) x Ohhhhh I do love this instagram malarky! Follow me @Sprinkleofglitr
(Taken from my Instagram album on FACEBOOK)


* Darcy. Saving the best til last, my little lovebug, Baby Glitter. She does far too many cute things to put in a list without making you all sick, but, the baby babble in particular has melted my heart. "Spish spash' for bath and 'Haaaart' for heart (when pointing to body parts) and 'Nortnortey' for naughty, are all words I never tire of hearing in her sweet voice. 

I would love to hear what your Mini Happies are because they spread the joy and make the world a better place. Power to the people and all that jazz haha!

Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is 21st Serendipity . If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Hello Holiday: Cozy Classics

Leather Leggings: Paige. Boots: Rag + Bone. Jacket: Club Monaco c/o (also love this one). Sweater: thanks to Otte. Hat: Saks Fifth. Sunglasses: Burberry. Ring: Jennifer Zeuner. Purse: Celine.

P.S. You can check out my Club Monaco gift guide here! XO BEE