Pin it Forward - Launching a business with the help of Pinterest

The internet is a haven for so many wonderful things, there are also some really, really dud things out there too. Imagine a place where you could see a picture or a post of something you like, grab it and stick a pin in it to keep it safe.  Before we called these bookmarks but if you are like me, you have 100's of things in your bookmarks folder which are disorganised and can never find what you are looking for.

Along comes the thing that a lot of us have been dreaming about - a place to store online all those fantabulous things that we see, grab them and stick them onto online pin boards so we can browse through things by category later on. PINTEREST!!!  You can loose hours on Pinterest - a never ending supply of images to tempt, delight and inspire you.

Now, we all use the internet for different things.  Some people use it for playing games, for fun, for music, socialising, some people use it for more obscure likes - we will not go there, eh? - and of course there is also those who use it for business.

Around eight weeks ago, whilst standing at a Fair Trade Coffee Afternoon, my friend, Ellie, and I decided that we should do something that we have both wanted to do for a long while - open a Vintage Tea Room and Gift Shop in our sleepy little village in the North West of England and provide people with cake, amazing food and a range of gifts which you do not really see anywhere else.

On 4th May, just seven weeks after our initial chat, we opened Sitting Pretty Vintage Tea Room and Gift Shop in Galgate, near Lancaster.  We had many sleepless nights, we slaved away, called in favours and rallied the troops to help us convert a village pub to a traditional tea room.

Our first point of call was to go online and look for ideas, research decor, furniture, food and of course cakes.  Pinterest was our first point of call, as I had been using the service for quite some time, I showed Ellie how it all worked and we were off on a pinning frenzy.  We used pinterest to grab ideas and inspirations for our tea room, how places around the world work and look at interiors, lighting and finishings.

We took a lot of ideas which we had seen pinterest from across the globe and brought them into fruition in our very own little eclectic mix of modern/vintage/retro/shabby chic.

We have just finished our first seven days. We have been astounded by the reception that we have got from opening the tea room and we have not yet launched our full food menu - that comes next week!  Our cakes, scones and tea selection is going down a treat with people from the local area and also walkers, cyclists and boaters from across the country.

We are also linking our own images onto Pinterest to link back to the Sitting Pretty Website and my own blog so people can see our own creations and see how we have implemented them in the tea room.  Of course, now we are open, that is not the end of our board, we are going to use the board more and more to showcase more ideas of our own and also help promote local artisans who are displaying their crafts in our gift shop.

This post was part of the #Pinitforward campaign which is part of the launch of Pinterest in the UK. Over 300 bloggers are taking part in showcasing their boards and each day a number of bloggers get the chance to share with you why they love Pinterest.  Tomorrow will be the turn of Fritha Tigerlilly who is a fantastic fashion blogger and illustrator, her blog is just beautiful and you must go see!  You can find her blog HERE and her Pinterest board HERE!

You can find out more about the Pin it Forward campaign by clicking the logo below.  If I have inspired you to join Pinterest - click here and get pinning!!

Oh how times have changed #SpecialK30 Linky Challenge

John Mayer sings "If only my life were more like 1983, all these things would be more like they were at the start of me, had it made in '83."

Back in 1983 I was only 2 years old. Born in December of 1980, I was not even 3 years old yet.  I lived in Corby, Northamptonshire in a little estate where my Dad was setting up his business Sitting Pretty.  My Mum, Dad, me and our two dogs, Jerry and Duster, were happy in our little family home.

In 1983 Thatcher was PM, CITV was launched, the Austin Metro was the best selling car, CD's officially went on sale in the UK, the one pound coin was introduced, Blackadder first aired on TV and Cheryl Cole was born.  Lots of other stuff happened, but I do not actually remember much to be honest - it was 30 years ago!


Shall we have a little trip down memory lane and have a look what my like was like back in 1983?
*wiggles hands and makes funny noises like in Wayne's World - dooodaldooo dooodaladooo dooodaladooo*

Home Sweet home, Sat on the doorstep with my Dad on a summers evening, in my nightshirt - as you do.

My bedroom was a simple affair, the grand piano took up most of the room but the crocheted blanket was very shabby chic as you can see.  Please excuse the lack of trousers here.... you may spot a theme further on.

1983 - the year in which it was ok to wear no clothes in the street. Why exactly am I wearing nothing on my bottom half and why is there a Chippendale walking behind me with fans following close behind?  We will never know!

1983 was the year we got Duster, our Labrador.  I remember choosing him, and I cried because he peed on my red wellies. Again - I am wearing what looks like next to nothing, and my Dad seems to have lost his trousers as well. Dear Lord!! I promise, I was not trying to be a nudist or something!

Just because we got a new dog, I could not forget about Jerry.  Oh how that dog hated me and what I used to dress him up in. I am sure he would lie under my bed plotting to take over the world and make me his slave!

Fashion really was not a strong point in '83.  Cord dungarees with a knitted xmas jumper - in summer. Hmmmmm. At least I am wearing SOMETHING!

But one thing has remained the same - I don't take No for an answer.

Are we coming full circle? 1983 saw the launch of my Dad's business Sitting Pretty and in memory of my Mum and Dad who have both passed away, I am launching Sitting Pretty Vintage Tea Room and Gift Shop in May!

30 years ago I bopped along to Adam and the Ants, I watched Scooby Doo, played with mud and water in the garden, I lost my two front teeth, I liked bananas, I wore hardly any clothes, I had two dogs - Duster and Jerry, and had my whole family around me.

Lets finish the flash back and come back to the present...

*more arm waving like Wayne's World, doodaldoo, doodaladoo, doodaladoo!*

I live here - South of Lancaster in the North West

I am opening my own Tea Room called Sitting Pretty

I make sticky gooie treats like this for a living!

This little man is the love of my life

And the need dressing up animals called Jerry has not changed much in 30 years.

30 years on I bop around to John Mayer and Fall Out Boy, watch Greys Anatomy, play with food and cake stuff, need to have my front teeth looked at as they are cracked, I hate bananas, I have far too many clothes, I have two cats - Ben and Jerry and I have my son, Nathan as my direct family have almost all passed away.

Things change. That is obvious, but looking back it is quite surprising just how much my life has actually come full circle and how my life is closely following that of my parents, as they were the same age as me when they launched Sitting Pretty, way back when. One thing that has not changed in those 30 years is a loved cereal - Special K. In the last 30 years it has remained the same, until its new launch in 2013.

How very 80's!! 

How very 2013!!  

So, of course, I am not one to turn down an offer of trying something new, and with lots of new things happening in my life right now, some new cereal makes a refreshing change from the daily two slices of toast being munched in the car on the way to school and work.

Now to me, Special K was like a cross between cornflakes and rice krispies.  A strange way of explaining it, but it worked for me.  The new Special K has more wholegrain and more added vitamins too. I have to say that I did not think I would notice a difference, but I did. It is actually more filling and satisfying   I go through phases of cereal and breakfast eating and I have been swayed the Special K way. 

So, 30 years on and Special K has changed.  I have changed, I have grown up - well from being 22 inches long when born, I have actually only grown, 36.5 inches since I have been born - so, I have MATURED!! (OK I am short, I know!!) 

I have been through emotional roller coasters of love and loss, having lost both my parents and others close to me, I have been through school, various relationships, had a child, got married, getting divorced, worked my bum off, played Mum to 300 international students, made friends, lost friends, moved house 17 times, learned lots, slept plenty, ate too much and started my own business!  I have changed a lot over the last 30 years, but the last seven have been the most amazing - the ones with my little boy - seeing him grow up and his life pan out are some of the most exciting times in my life.  

I hope that in 30 years time, Nathan will be able to look back on all the photos that I have of him and enjoy taking a trip down memory lane.

This post was in conjunction with the BritMums #SpecialK30 and the How I've Changed Linky Challenge with My Special K which can be found HERE!

Shopping for teens in collaboration with New Look

I have a confession to make. I am quite glad that I have Nathan as my son and that he is not a girl.  With him being only 6 years old – 7 this summer, clothes shopping is a simple affair.  At the moment things that are cool are jeans, tshirts, hoodies – socks do not have to match and if his tshirts or socks has a skull on, bonus!  Going shopping with him is easy, he goes to the normally one or two boys isles in the shop and is done in a few minutes. When it comes to shoes however, that is a different matter – he is like his mother there!

I have never really had to shop for teenage girls nor when I was growing up was I the sort of teenage girl who shopped in high street shops.  I had a rather eclectic taste in clothes, jeans and trainers were a necessity and going to a high school where we had no uniform, we were able to express ourselves in any way we wanted.  My main aim was comfort, and could my pockets fit my Walkman in… that was one of the biggest issues I had when choosing clothes.  Luckily I had a Dad who was a tailor, as well as a wiz when it came to soft furnishings.  He made me my own leather jacket. Black and red leather with pockets to fit my Walkman, spare batteries and a tape or two, lined with flowery fabric that I chose, it was very me.  At school everyone wanted my jacket and I was proud of it.

Now if you have teenage girls, I am sure that you have traipsed around the high street with them on many of an occasion to go shopping.  Battling the crowds and having to know what the latest fashion trends are is part of the reason us parents endure those shopping trips. So we can look at things and say NO!  However, New Look has an excellent range of clothing for teenage girls, the leggings range is quite extensive and they even have Union Flag Leggings!  Previous readers may know my feelings on that – say no more! Ahem. 

This post has been brought to you in conjunction with New Look.

Do I really need more shoes? Post in conjunction with John Lewis

As previous readers of my blog will know, I have a love hate relationship with shoes.  Love them in the fact I do own, way, way, too many pairs of shoes and hate them because I only have two feet and those two feet do not like wearing anything with even the slightest inclining of a heel on them.

I think at my last count of shoes I had around 43 pairs. I maybe wear 3 of those, on rotation, because actually I prefer being bare foot, especially when I am in the house and even if I go out in the garden.  Sort of hippy in that way I suppose.

There are some beautiful, amazing shoes out there which a girl can only dream of wearing.  Designer shoes and I think most women aspire to owning some designer make like Kirk Geiger Shoes. John Lewis are currently stocking the KG range from Kirk Geiger and the shoe shopper in me could not resist a look at the range online.

I was actually astounded about how affordable some of the shoes were, and the towering heels which I always associate with designer makes, it seems that this season, flats are also in. That’s a huge thing for me as I might actually be fashionable for once.

It also seems that spikes and studs are in.  Rocking the biker chick look with some hardcore metal spikes all over certain shoes, seems to be the “in” look. I spotted someone on my Facebook friends list recently sporting a pair of these to work and the only word I could think of would be OUCH!  Now I am not really the most graceful of people but think that these would probably take my eye out in a freak accident.  I think I will stick to something more along the lines of the Hi-Top Trainers, no spikes and flat, perfect for a girl like me – and they come in pink too!

This post has been brought to you in collaboration with John Lewis.

Eggs are Easy! Bacon and Egg Salad #eggmainsinminutes

Eggs are a fantastic meal, quick and easy and so versatile too.  In this house poached eggs on toast is a firm standby favourite not only for breakfast but for a quick tea time supper too.  But sometimes you want to do something a little bit different with the humble egg.  This easy and simple family dish is sure to please.

Easy Bacon and Egg Salad
Serves 4

You will need...

6 soft boiled eggs
8 sun dried tomatoes in olive oil - from a jar or deli counter
2 cloves of garlic
2tbs balsamic vinegar
1/2tsp dijon mustard
3 spring onions
1 red pepper
8 slices of cooked streaky bacon
1 bag of prepared mixed salad leaves
6tbs Olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

In what I call a whizzer - place the garlic, balasmic vinegar, mustard and olive oil and whizz up until smooth. Check consistency and taste, add seasoning to your liking but remember the bacon on the salad will be salty.

In a large bowl, pop in the prepared mixed salad leaves, the finely chopped spring onions, and the diced red pepper. chop up the bacon into chunks and add this to the salad, add the dressing and toss everything through.

Deshell the eggs and cut them over the salad making sure that if they are soft boiled, you do not loose any of the lovely yolk. place them on top of the salad, dress with a little black pepper and you are ready to serve.

Serve with a warmed loaf of bread and enjoy out in the garden while the sun is shining.

This post is part of the #eggmainsinminutes challenge from BritMums You can also find other recipes on the Meals in Minutes website too

Make some money with Music Magpie

As kids grow older, tastes change. I know this all too well, like most parents do. Nathan was obsessed with The Wiggles when he was younger – to the point that everything had to be based around what colour he would wear to match what his favourite Wiggle colour was that day.

We got him the T-shirts, the toys, the singing dinosaur and of course – the mountain of DVDs and CDs which they made – when they were the original line up, and the ones with Sam – the new Wiggles are just not the same.

We have also gone through the baby DVD stage, the Ben10 stage and we are now onto the Batman and superhero stage.  Needless to say, with all of these different stages of growing up, we have acquired a mountain of DVDs and CD’s which are now no longer used.

Getting Nathan to part with his collection of DVDs and CDs was somewhat traumatic but I decided to show him Music Magpie – a service where old games, DVD’s and CD’s can be turned into money for you to spend on whatever you like.  Nathan was able to use the service with my help, selecting what DVD’s and CD’s he wanted to part ways with and use the online barcode scanner to collect the data of each of the titles, package them up and we sent them away.  Shortly after a cheque came through the post for which we cashed and we gave to Nathan to go shopping with.  I was very surprised to find that Music Magpie not only do Game, DVD’s and CD’s but you can make money from old clothes now too.  Time for a wardrobe clear out next.

The service was straight forward and simple enough for a child to use and a wonderful way of getting into spring cleaning and getting rid of all of those Wiggles DVD’s.  No more Hot Potato, Hot Potato as now we have Madagascar 3 on endless repeat.  I am wondering when the day will come that he will want to trade this lot of DVD’s in so I am not walking around the house singing Afro Circus!

This post was brought to you in conjunction with Music Magpie.

Collaborative post with Irwin Mitchell - Family Law Solicitors

What every Parent should know about the Law

We never like to think of times when things could go wrong or when we have to seek legal aid, though it’s important for all of us to know what to do in these situations. Whether you are going through a divorce, sorting out a will or are trying to settle child custody issues, a team of experienced, professional family law solicitors is essential. Many respected firms offer advice free of charge, but for a quick low-down of information, as well as recent changes to laws which might affect you and your family, read on!

There have been changes to legal aid

Changes came into place on 1^st April this year which affect who is eligible to claim financial aid. This means fewer people are able to claim free legal advice and representation, as changes have been made the government’s Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act. This affects some areas of family law including divorce and custody battles, which no longer qualify for legal aid. More severe cases are an exception: family law cases involving domestic violence, forced marriage or child abduction will still continue to be funded.

Is divorce expensive?

Many separated couples put off getting divorce as they believe it to be a high- cost process. However, this can result in worsening relations between you and your estranged partner, as well as being damaging for your children. There are ways in which to cut the cost of divorce, so you can proceed with this step without breaking the bank.

DIY divorces are getting more popular and are now offered as an online service. Numerous websites offer a variety of services, on an increasing price scale. The lowest-cost options provide you will downloadable papers to fill out or, for a slightly higher sum, you can have the papers filled out and posted on your behalf.

If you are willing to spend a little more for more in-depth help some solicitors firms offer a fixed-price service. This may be an option for couples who have already agreed on issues concerning property and valuables.

The kids are alright

If you are a parent dealing with legal issues, the welfare of your child or children will be paramount. If you are going through a divorce there are a number of things to consider when it comes to your children. Firstly, custody issues have to arranged – where will your child reside and what kind of contact will both parents have? This may not just involve you as a parent, but also grandparents and members of the wider family who may hold an interest in your child’s welfare. When looking for a team of solicitors ensure that you choose a firm who prioritize the interests of your child.

Understanding the issues and changes around family law can seem confusing, especially if you are experiencing a stressful and life-changing event. Remember that professional advice and held is always at hand, and that solicitors are available to give advice free of charge, on any aspect of family law.

This post was brought to you in conjunction with Irwin Mitchell Family Law Solicitors

Collaborative post with Ice Lolly Holidays

Ayia Napa for the Family

As you probably already know, Ayia Napa has a notorious reputation as a party destination. But beyond the themed clubs and party hotels, Ayia Napa has a lot to offer families looking to go on cheap holidays as well. Check out these attractions for a sun holiday that the whole family can enjoy:

Beaches

While the mention of Nissi Beach might conjure up images of beach bars where young twenty-somethings dance and drink all day long, the eastern end of the beach is much quieter and calmer, making it suitable for families. Sandy Beach is also popular with families, as its gentle waters are a great place to try water activities like jet skiing, snorkeling, and para-sailing. Grecian Bay Beach and Macronissos Beach both offer good facilities and a laid back atmosphere as well.

Family Amusement Parks

Make a splash with the entire family at the biggest water park in Europe— Waterworld Waterpark! This Greek-themed waterpark includes 18 fun attractions, including the high thrill “Drop to Atlantis,” “The Quest of Hercules,” and “Kamikaze Slides.” Want something a little more chill? Check out “Poseidon’s Wave Pool,” “Aphrodite’s Bath,” or the “River Odyssey.”

You’ll also want to check out Parko Paliatso Luna Park on your visit to Ayia Napa. The park offers standard attractions like the Ferris wheel, tea cups, and carousel, as well as high thrill attractions like the Slingshot, Blizzard, and Viking Pirate Ship. Want to skip the parks? Check out the mini golf or the go kart track opposite the McDonalds on Nissi Avenue.

Boat Trips

Give the kids an adventure on the high seas with a boat trip tour of Ayia Napa. The younger kids will enjoy the entertainment aboard “The Black Pearl,” where they’ll witness the sword fights of Captain Jack and his pirates, and maybe even get to see someone walk the plank! A glass-bottom boat tour on the Yellow Submarine or the Famagusta Napa Boat will give you an opportunity to see fish and other sea creatures swimming just below your feet; the latter can be especially cost-effective, with ticket prices as low as €5 during certain times of the year. If you’re travelling with older kids, you might consider boarding the Dolphin Boat Safari. This high thrill speedboat makes stops for swimming and snorkeling along the way.

Where to Stay

If you’re concerned that a stay in Ayia Napa will leave you tossing and turning all night, don’t be. Most of the clubs are concentrated around the central plaza, so if you book your stay closer to the beach areas, you’ll be in good shape. A range of accommodations—from luxurious holiday villages to value hotels with nice pools—are available. Compare hotels in Ayia Napa to find the best deals.

This post was brought to you in conjunction with the holiday company Ice Lolly.

Strange food cravings

I would just like to point out from the outset, I am not pregnant.  Do not get any ideas about that - put them out of your head - I am going to talk about food cravings but this is just me being strange and defiantly not being pregnant. OK? Good, I will continue!

I have been having some very strange food cravings recently.  It involves mayo, and chicken. Chicken, and mayo...

Now, it does not matter what combination this comes in, but it is all I want.  Over the last couple of weeks I have eaten mainly chicken - breaded, battered, roasted, sliced, in sandwiches and on sticks - but all have to have mayo. Even on pizza... with mayo.

Even in writing this post, I have stopped for lunch which consisted of breaded chicken breast chopped up, dipped in mayo.  Please tell me that this is normal behavior for a grown up? I though this sort of thing only happened with kids who were fussy eaters.

I have been here once before with another mad craving. That lasted around about a month, and actually was about this time last year.  That time it was jacket potatoes with grated cheese - only Red Leicester cheese - with butter and plenty of black pepper. I tried to have this again the other night and it did not hit the spot so I am back on the chicken.

Do you have any strange food cravings which you must have or am I alone in the universe with my love of chicken and mayo at the moment?

Simple Sunday

Sunday's in my life are for the simple pleasures in life. I am taking the opportunity for the next couple of weeks to relax and enjoy family life - for in a short time I will be running the Sitting Pretty Vintage Tea Room.

Sundays are all about relaxing, snoozing, snuggling, enjoying food and time spent together.