13 loves {2013}

It's the last day of the year and I've been a bad blogger this month but I couldn't let the month go by without one last post.

I loved Pam's concept of {13 loves} and joined in right away in January. I haven't been able to come up with a list every month but looking back, there are 7 lists of things that I loved in 2013. So I've decided to bring together my top 13 favourites for the year...

One

I got myself this gorgeous lipstick and it is indeed fabulous! Perfect pink to match your own lips!

two

One of the best photos ever. I was lucky enough to spend time with all my beautiful nieces and handsome nephew this year and could fill my list with photos of them. But this is just such an adorable photo, I will let it represent time with them all. Can't wait to spend more time with them in 2014.

three

A present brought back for me from far away travels. In Pink! Need to get to use it more. 

four 

Amanda Catherine Des Esty shop (here)

Still love these and they are still on my Etsy favourite list. I intend to get them for someone (or me!) next year. 

five

  

A big highlight of the year was a much anticipated concert, the first for quite some time, by one of my musical heroes for the last 30 years!  Nigel Kennedy is a genius and I was thrilled to be able to get tickets for the 2^nd row at his recent concert featuring Bach and Fats Waller – a really super combination, if a little unconventional. Actually, that is probably the best word to describe Kennedy himself… unconventional. Anyway, to get to the point, I got the chance to meet him after the concert as a signing had been set up. I was like a teenager and was thrilled to have a quick chat with him, have him sign my programme and grab a photo. It may not be the best, but one that makes me smile every time I look at it. 

Six

Scrapabilly online shop here

Back in the summer, I was invited to join the Scrapabillyhttp://www.scrapabilly.de/ design team - lucky me! Sylvia's shop is an amazing treasure trove crammed full of gorgeous stash and I'm delighted and honoured to have been asked, and so warmly welcomed, onto the team. Happy to have found a new scrappy home.

seven

Pinterest find (here)

Considering I am someone who doesn't have nice fingers (I'm a nibbler) or nails, I fall in love with a lot of nail varnishes. I didn't manage to track this one down yet but when I do, I know I will love it!

eight

Pinterest find here

So true, so true!

nine

Check out the Jingle Belles blog (here)

I'm a huge fan of the brains behind the Jingle Belles blog, Lauren and Stephanie. They are so inspirational and help us to stop the stress of homemade Christmas cards by inspiring us every week to create our pile of cards all the way through the year. I am excited to play along in 2014 and have that happy pile of cards ready to go again in December.

ten

These shoes which I spotted in the Marina Bay Shopping Mall, Singapore when I was there in December stole my heart. Every time I look at this photo, I fall in love all over again. 

eleven

My word just sort of came to me back in January and I promptly ordered a charm to remind myself of it every day. I've been working on it, quietly, in my own way through the year and am happy with the progress I made. 2014's word came to me early and I am ready to go with it as of now!

twelve

Counterfeit Kit Challenge (here)

I've been playing along with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge for nearly three years now and I love it as much now as I did back then. Love that I get to shop my stash, love that I have a pile of ready made mix and match products that are ready to go whenever I want to scrap, love the team and the awesomely creative girls over there. The Counterfeit Kit Challenge is an awesome idea and I'm thrilled to be part it. It makes me happy.

thirteen

This place. I love it. I miss Pam but hope she will come back to us sometime. I have some truly special friends over there and am thrilled every time a new layout hits the gallery. Join us {here}. We'd love to see you there.

And there you have it - the highlights of the 2013 from my {13 loves} lists. Of course, there was a lot else that I loved and was a part of throughout the year but this is quite a representative list all in all!

Even though this was originally Pam's idea, I've decided to carry on this idea in 2014 with {14 loves} which I hope to get posted on the 14th of every month. I'd love it if you joined in too.

Wishing you all a very good New Year celebration or "einen guten Rutsch ins neuen Jahr" as they say round here and thank you each and every one of you for visiting my blog. I appreciate every one of you and hope to be a more active blogger in 2014. Why not drop by and let me know how I'm doing.

Goodbye 2013... hello and welcome to 2014.

See you on the other side! 

13 loves {September}

My wonderful friend Pam is taking some time out at the moment. Time out from blogging, scrapping and craftiness. But I've decided that just because she's not continuing her {13 loves} series at the moment, that doesn't mean that I shouldn't either.

So, I missed a few months (my last one was June) because life's been somewhat chaotic, but I'm back for September and yes, it's a day late, but better late than never! I really enjoyed pulling together my list of {13 loves} for the first half of the year and I'm looking forward to getting to the end of the year with my shares.

So, here's what I'm loving right now

One

It's been a crazy busy time at home as well as work since the end of spring. Working long hours and receiving lots of visitors made for hectic if happy times and I pinned this to remind me of something that I often forget. Snoopy has been a love of mine since forever. He's a very smart little beagle.

Pinterest source (here)

Two

We had a whole week of celebrations over at Whimsical Musings to celebrate our 100th prompt with 5 guest designers and lots of prizes. If you are looking for some inspiration, you can't go wrong by checking out the posts (here) and the Flickr Gallery (here). This community of scrappy ladies makes me very, very happy. I had a blast the whole week and the fun is set to continue for the next 100 prompts and beyond!

Image courtesty of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Three

I found this image on Pinterest and just loved the combination of the blouse and pink sweater. If only I could carry this off! I would wear this for sure.

Pinterest source (here)

Four

I have a new scrap crush. Ashli Oliver (check out her blog here). I discovered her through the "No More Floating Flair" series over at the A Flair for Buttons blog and I instantly fell in love with her wonderful style. I need to do this twine wrapped flair look here in this layout. I will be watching this girl for sure. Love, love, love!

Ashli Oliver at A Flair For Buttons 

Five

I was very happy to get a visit from this young man in August (ok, so he brought the family along with him too!) and to discover how grown up he is. I was thrilled to force encourage him to allow me to take a photo of the two of us!

Six

My favourite character in the Harry Potter books/films has always been Ron. This just made me smile. Love how Pinterest throws up these little happy gems. Now I want to track down all the films (I have them all somewhere in here) and watch a HP marathon!

Pinterest source (here)

Seven

As mentioned, my nephew was kind enough to bring along the rest of the family so this little angel was there too. She is adorable, gentle, clever, bright and just lovely. Another photo that made me happy.

Eight

Yet another Pinterest smile. If you have ever had a Boxer in the family, you will most certainly relate to this list. I sent it out to the whole family and one by one, they all wrote back to say, "Yes, yes, yes!"

Pinterest source (here)

Nine

I love this colour so much that as soon as I had purchased it for myself, I got a bottle for my sister. It's such a pretty pinky, brown, metallic colour. 

Essie Buy Me A Cameo (here)

Ten

After a particularly hard week at work, I was thrilled when my Amazon order arrived. I had missed the "David Bowie is..." exhibition at the Victoria & Albert in London but was determined to get the exhibition book (as well as a few other books that just fell into my basket). I have since found out that the collection will be touring and I fully intend to book a weekend in Paris 2015 to get to see it. This little gift to myself made it onto a page that very weekend. Love that kind of inspired scrapping.

Eleven

If I could find some shoes like this, I would buy them in a second! Where to get them? No idea, but pretty isn't enough of a word to describe them. If anyone knows how to get hold of them, please, please let me know!

Pinterest source (here)

Twelve

And of course, no family visit would be complete without the Diva in the family. We spent three days catching up on hugs, cuddles and kisses. Two nieces, one nephew and a slew of new photos - result.

Thirteen

This has actually been a motto in my life since I first left home at 18 - many, many years ago. So true. Something to remember.

Pinterest source (here)

Busy but happy days for me over the summer and so many things to love.

What's on your {13 loves} list today?

13 loves {June 2013}

A bit late this month but here's what I'm loving this month:

One

A new (to me) online shop which specialises in washi and flair buttons, as well as some digital papers and label elements, and some über-cute chevron bags - and who doesn't love those right now? The shop is really pretty and full of scrumptious goodies. Definitely one to check out.

Finding Nana online shop here

Two

Time with my two brothers. I have spent time with each of them alone over here in Germany, but never both of them at the same time. It was an "experience" and I loved it!

Three

This just sums up my life. Made me smile - wryly.

Pinterest source here

Four

June was a crazy busy time with one visitor arriving after the next. My bestie arrived the night my two brothers left town and stayed for the weekend. We don't spend much time together these days so it was a weekend with a whole lot of chatting and soul searching late into the night.

Five

Love Paris. Love Audrey Hepburn. Not sure I'd want this but the sentiment certainly rings true.

Pinterest source here

Six

I was invited to join the Scrapabillyhttp://www.scrapabilly.de/ design team (I talked about it here and here.) Sylvia's shop is an amazing treasure trove crammed full of gorgeous stash and I'm delighted and honoured to have been asked, and so warmly welcomed, onto the team. Watch this space for the new kit creations at the beginning of July. Another gorgeous kit. :-)

Scrapabilly online shop here

Seven

I want to do this. Now!

Pinterest source here

Eight

The next visitor during June was this little bundle of joy (and she brought her mum and dad along too!).

It was a fantastic opportunity for me to carry on getting to know her and we had a whole lot of fun. Uncle R filled the garden with fun stuff for her to enjoy, including this swing. She squealed with joy!

Nine

Enjoying using the Scrapabilly kit to capture the progression of aforementioned, über-cute niece. Love this little one, love this page.

Ten

Saw these on Pinterest. They would be an absolute must buy for me if I could get them over here. Will have to keep my eyes open for something similar in the shops round here. Aren't they super?

Pinterest find here

Eleven

My baby niece thoughtfully brought her mummy with her - my baby, baby sister. It was so wonderful to have some one-on-one (well along with a house full of husbands, babies, daddies and brothers!) time with her. It was a crazy month with so many visitors (in fact it's been like this since the end of April!) but I wouldn't have changed it for the world. I can't remember the last time we had some quiet time with each other and I was happy to get this photo of the two of us together. Love this girl!

Twelve

My Instax is being well-used and I can't resist this combination of the two of us on this mini format polaroid. This will be hitting a scrapbook page in the very near future.

Thirteen

No pink picks this month but another mint green love. Unlikely to be getting this in the near future (Ha ha!) but love it all the same.

Pinterest source here

Like I said, it's been a crazy month with guests coming and going through the house at a rate of knots which meant that there wasn't much time for much else. But it was wonderful. July will be just as busy with both brothers moving in for the month and several events on the calendar that we will all be involved in. I'm excited to share that with you too as it happens. In the meantime, hope June is treating you well and if you have 13 loves, we'd love to see them.

13 loves is a series started off by my inspirational best friend Pam over at Daily Pamage.

13 loves {May 2013}

Here I am again with my list of what I'm loving right now as part of Pam's 13 loves series.

1.

Pinterest find (here)

Considering I am someone who doesn't have nice fingers (I'm a nibbler) or nails, I fall in love with a lot of nail varnishes. This rose gold is one for the summer that's on my wish list.

2.

Counterfeit Kit Challenge (here)

I've been playing along with LOAD513 this month and thank heavens for my Counterfeit Kit Challenge kits. Love that I have a pile of ready made mix and match products that are ready to go whenever I want to scrap. The Counterfeit Kit Challenge is an awesome idea and I'm thrilled to be part of the team. It makes me happy.

3.

Pinterest find (here)

Another bag that caught my eye - as if I need another bag. Ha ha!

4.

iTunes (here)

Downloaded this recently and love it. I don't buy a lot of music but when I do, I listen to it over and over again.

5.

Pinterest find (here)

I am determined to use my sewing machine on more than just paper. This inspiration found on Pinterest might be the push I need. I would love to wear this skirt.

6.

Asparagus season is here - at last. Which means to eat as much of the stuff as you can before the season is over. Scrummy. 

7.

Pinterest find (here)

Still on the lookout for colour combinations. Possibly a bit too much colour for us but I do love it.

8.

Visitors from home means sightseeing around the corner of Germany I call home. I've been to this mining museum about 6 times and yet, I still love it and find it so interesting to see the history of something so important to the history of the area. Helps to have a silly photo.

9.  

Pinterst find (here)

Did someone see me directly before writing this??

10.

Another sign of warmer weather is the beginning of the summer cocktail season.  Looking forward to finding out what the cocktail of 2013 will be.

11.

Jamie Warren at BasicGrey (here)

*sigh* This is just such a gorgeous page. I need to lift this.

12. 

Amanda Catherine Des Esty shop (here)

Always on the lookout for cool and pretty gifts. These will be on order before long.

13.

A happy new trolly full of happy new products. More of my favourite shopping location next month :-)

13 loves is a series started off by my inspirational best friend Pam over at Daily Pamage. I'm sure she had a more eventful month than me so be sure to pop by and see what delights she has to offer.