I haven't read any books in ages. Part of the reason is that there is such a wealth of information available online coupled with beautiful images. As a result, it is difficult to engross yourself in a book with what seems like endless pages of text... There are just too many distractions. For example I think to myself, Oh I must look up how to make the perfect flower arrangement... so online I go... click, click and next thing I  know  I'm on Pinterest.  This leads to other websites, blogs, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc, etc.  It just keeps going on and on until I can't remember what I was actually going online for in the first place. You know what I mean... Has it happened to you too? And then I never get round to that book that is sitting on my bedside table for over two weeks just gathering dust.

Don't get me wrong, I still think that reading books is important for developing our concentration skills, understanding, imagination, memory and creativity. I feel that this is something younger generations may be missing out on. The sense of discovery in a new book is great and the sense of satisfaction and completion when you reach those last pages.

I have so many books, I have a small library room upstairs in my house and I only have my favourite books downstairs. Lately I am drawn to books with lots of beautiful illustrations and photographs. One of which is this fabulous book Homespun Style by Selina Lake which takes pride of place on my dresser. It's an interior design book which couples both my love of books and interior design...  Have a look at the beautiful photograph and if you would like to find out visit here.

I haven't posted much in the past few weeks but now that the Summer is over and the nights are getting longer, I will be posting more frequently. I haven't posted items I like in a long time so here goes. Below are a few items I like this week...

From top left: 

1. Paris scene t-shirt which I purchased from Next (nice for lounging around in)

2. Really loving the Pip Studio tile collection based on classic lace patterns

3. A good read from Lesley Pearse- lots of love and heartbreak, thanks to my sister in law for getting this for me (haven't it all read yet but I'm really enjoying it) and finally

4.  Bought this blue tile print dress from New Look, now that I see it, it looks really like the Pip Studio tiles :) Love the blue colours.

So there you have it, all the things that I like this week. Is there anything you are into this week?

I hope everyone is settled into the new year by now. Throughout December I spend a lot of my free time reading. I read The Wind in the Willows, The Book Thief and The Glass Painter's Daughter. All very good books, The Wind in the Willows is a classic from my childhood and a lovely read for all ages, The Book Thief was my favourite, it was difficult to put it down at times, it is set in Nazi Germany and narrated by death which is very unique. If you haven't read it, you will have to! The Glass Painter's Daughter is somewhat of a romance novel and was a lovely read too.

Below is a list of some of my favourite blogs. I regularly visit these blogs and find them really inspiring. What are your favourite blogs? Would love if you shared them with me.

Decor8

This blog has over 147,000 followers on pinterest alone, so you can just imagine the amount of followers Holly has to her blog.  Holly previously lived in the US but has relocated to Germany. Her blog is full of interiors inspiration and she is the author of a number of books. She also runs Bloggin your Way Courses and Bootcamps. Decor8 is the very first blog I read and it inspired me to start blogging, thank you Holly!

 

Yvestown

Yvonne is the author of this blog. Her home is so pretty, you really must take a look, I'm sure most of you have seen it anyway on pinterest- it is everywhere! This is one of the most popular lifestyle and interior blogs out there. She was currently filmed for a documentary on bloggers and is writing her own book. She hosts the fabulous Yvestown Fair in her own home(I have it on my wishlist to visit).

Selina Lake

Selina is an English Interior Stylist and I love her work. She has a number of must have books including Romantic Style, Homespun Style, Bazaar Style and her new Pretty Pastel Style will be launched later this month at a wonderful craft and vintage fair. I love her blog and all her styling, it is so pretty, bright and always makes me smile! If you haven't seen her work before you really have to check out this blog!

There you have it, three of my favourite blogs, in no particular order

{All images Selina Lake}

At the weekend my husband organised a birthday party for me as I was 30 last week. I had a great time with close family and friends. One of the gifts I received was Homespun Style by the very talented and creative Selina Lake- my friend must be able to read my mind as I really wanted this book but had never got around to buying it myself. I have just started reading it today and for those of you that do not have it yet, my advise is go buy it!!! I love it, it is filled with such lovely images and creative ideas.

For more information and for lots of inspiration visit Selina's Blog

Last week I finished reading "The Elephant Keeper" and it is on my top 5 list. I loved it, it is very sad in some parts and had me crying twice. Well worth a read if you haven't already read it. It's up there with my other favourite "The Life of Pi"

Hello everyone. I took today off work and have been very busy cleaning out the rooms in my new home. I'm also sanding the window boards and door jams. Hope you are all having a nice Monday. The weather is nice enough here in Ireland. This weekend I have been reading a book from Dublin Author Maeve Binchy, I'm flying through it and will have it finished by mid week. It's an easy read. I also have two other nice books that I'll share with you once I finish this one. That's my quick update, I'm off now to do more sanding and cleaning.

Are you all set for the Royal Wedding? I spotted this beautiful book over at Country Living by author Fiona Goble- Knit Your Own Royal Wedding- How cute is this!!! Kate, William, the Queen and the Corgis :)

{All images from Fiona Goble, Knit Your Own Royal Family Book} 

Since Christmas I have done very little crafting. I am busy at work and my brain is on over drive making decisions for the new house. So what have I started doing again- reading! You would think I could pick something more relaxing to wind down from a long day at work, but no I love a good read. I stopped reading girly books (you know the ones- troubles in love, affairs, etc) as I preferred books based on true stories. I am back to reading the girly books again as they are easier to read. What books are you reading? Can you recommend any nice ones to me. I am currently reading The Tea House on Mulberry Street which I am enjoying.

I love books, be it fiction, fairytale or folklore, I love them all. Every since I was a child I always loved books and book shops and book shelves and libraries. I used to read the dictionary when I was a child too- yes I told you before I was a nerd! I also kept books underneath my pillow. I sold all my Barbie dolls and other dolls when I was 11 to buy second hand Enid Blyton books. I donated alot of my childhood books to charity and local community bring and buy sales.  Here are a few childhood books I still have;

I still love to read this Aesop's Fables Book and when I was teaching, the children loved listening to the fables.

My Enid Blyton including Famous Five and Secret Seven Collection, I read these books so quick I remember very little of them :)

And then as I got older I started with the girly flick chick books

And some more...

So you get the picture, I have lots of books and have given away many others.

Here is some inspiration in the form of  a few lovely book shelves and home libraries.

{Nobodyandco}

{Country Living}

{Neville Johnson}

{Country Living}

If you would like to see some really intersting book shelves and bookcases I have come across this cool blog called the Bookshelf. It's well worth a look when your free.

Having read a post over at The Curious Cat blog about the book A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, I thought I had heard of the book and I was right, it was sitting at the back of my bookshelf. Thank you for reminding me :) So that night I took it out when I was off to bed and started reading it in bed every night this week as I have not been able to sleep these nights. I finished it last night. It is a very gripping story about a girl in Afghanistan, about friendship, love and alot of brutality, suffering and endurance. It was very sad and brought me to tears a number of times. I really recommend this but be warned have your hankerchief ready and don't read it if you are feeling abit down. It brings home to us the suffering some people endure and reminds me of how lucky I am in life.

I got lots of lovely Christmas gifts from my friends and family. I got a gift voucher which I can use in alot of different shops so I’m deciding what to buy with it, thinking something practical that I need would be good but then I’m thinking no I’m going to treat myself!! So I have a few ideas, here they are;

No.1

No. 2

No.3

No. 4

No.5

No.6

No. 7

No. 8

No. 9

No. 10

Well what do you think? Do you have any of these items or books and if so what do you think of them? Have you any nice ideas??? I can get books, something from Boots, House of Fraser, Debenhams or Marks and Spencers, do you know of anything nice in those shops that I could treat myself with?