LAST NIGHT FOR VOTES, PLEASE HELP! Vote for TheWorldofKitsch.com in the Cosmo Blog Awards 2013.

​Without coming off all sob-story, I've literally been too sick recently to keep on top of things. Anaemia mixed with M.E. has turned my brain to mush and I'd forgotten to ask all you readers and friends to vote for me in this year's Cosmopolitan Magazine Blog Awards.​

​You'll need to put in your own email address to confirm its not me nominating myself a thousand times, the URL of the blog www.TheWorldofKitsch.com (the 'The' is vital as there's a similarly named website that isn't mine). When I've previously entered its always via the Lifestyle Category, but if you feel I fit anywhere else in their drop down menu, that's fine with me. The blog is well over a year old, so click no on that question, and that's about it!

​Why do I want to win a Cosmo Blog Award?

​The Cosmo Blog Awards is the longest running glossy magazine blogger competition. it's like the Blog Olympics. Blogging is my passion and hobby, and just as local football team hanker after winning the league, I get butterflies in my tummy wishing to place in the Cosmo Blog Awards.

Cosmopolitan Magazine KNOW bloggers. They've been reaching out to help us, and open up the world of media for us more than another women's magazine. In their first ever awards I won Highly Recommended in the Lifestyle Catagory, which propelled The World of Kitsch up a notch in the early days. Cosmo's seal of approval is a way of PR brands knowing you're a well read blog with a big outreach.​

After my win I was invited by Cosmopolitan Magazine to write a series of online pieces for them, which was mind-bogglingly (mind-BLOGgingly?) cool for me. ​

​in 2011 the blogging world had exploded and thousands more blogs entered, I didn't even get into the finals that year, this is why I am pleading with you to help me with a quick 2 minute vote here, I really do need every little vote. 

Ive worked so hard on keeping The World of Kitsch going this year despite ill health and I would be feel fit to burst with excitement if I managed another place in the finals this time around.​

​In 2012 I made it into the finals of the Lifestyle Category again, much to my surprise and absolute delight. The Award Ceremony always takes place in London, and I'm in Northern Ireland, so I always get to go 'on tour'. I enjoy travelling alone, feels very jet setting. This isn't paid as part of any prize, but its one of the best bits. 

Although being a finalist, I didn't win, but my London-based twitter friend Lolly won the Sex Blog Category so I was happy one of us did! I also got to stay in the craziest hotel in London, so if I do make the finals this autumn, expect more unusual sights and sounds from my trip.

So in conclusion, every little no,inaction makes a difference, and if you've enjoyed anything on The World of Kitsch this year, then please do take a moment and place me in the Lifestyle Category here. Thank you in advance. ​

Rebecca, Queen of Shades

Rebecca emailed me to tell me about her Etsy Store, Queen of Shades. She takes vintage lampshades and dolls them up for a fresh look for your home.

Things & Ink- The Love Issue- The Glossy Magazine Embracing Female Tattoo Culture & I Curate Their Homeware Section

​Issue 3 of Things & Ink is now on sale. You can pick up this beauty in Selfridges in London, as well as many tattoo studios. The easiest way to get your tattooed knuckles on Things & Ink is via subscription, right here on their website.
I'd love to post lots of pictures of the content, but that defeats the purpose of you guys buying a copy, and you really want its glossy goodness I'm your hands. So here is my page from The Love Issue.

Dinos, Ducks & Horseys, Snug Jammies from DaisychainBaby

Daisychain Baby is the stylish, Eco-friendly children's online clothing store for kiddywinkles aged 0-5. ​They sent my son these Ava & Luc Dinosaur pyjamas in age 4-5 to try. He's 5 and a half now, and they were a great fit. They are the sort of pyjamas that would make a lovely gift, noticeably better quality than a pair from a super market for example.

There are a great selection to choose from, and they arrive beautifully wrapped in tissue paper and ribbon, even handier if its a gift. ​

Fancy a pair, or in fact anything from www.DaisychainBaby.co.uk ? Use the code 'REVIEW' at the checkout for a big chunk of 20% off for The World of Kitsch readers.​

Howdy Cowboy! Cupcake Decorating Kit from The Craft Company

I haven't been too well this week, and my boys have  helped me with this blog post by baking some buns and decorating them with the Howdy Cowboy! Set from The Craft Company. 

I then topped them with a spoonful of Chocolate Philidelphia, squirt of cream and sprinkled Cadburys' Flake.  

Another cool idea would be just using the stick decoration part to decorate a BBQ platter. The Craft Company do hundreds of baking decorating kits, sprinkles, cases and ingredients. Pay them a visit.

A Showy-Offy Blog Post- I finally own a Rodnik Band Yellow Submarine Rain Mac

My favourite designer is Philip Colbert from www.TheRodnikBand.com His iconic British inspired work is bright & ballsy, and lately Rita Ora has been spotted in his freakishly cool, cartoon dresses. Before Rita wore Rodnik Band however, I was lucky enough to have found and fell in love with Philip's work. Rodnik Band were kind enough to dress me for last year's Cosmopolitan Blog Awards. I wore a gentleman's pipe print handprinted tunic with a red & white stripy faux fur Prada stole.

The item I've been after from the start though, which first sparked my interest in The Rodnik Band was the classic Yellow Submarine Rain Mac. A thing of quirky beauty. And I finally have one of my own, you know, now that the rain has stopped.

Detroit gets its Very Own RoboCop Statue, Thanks to The Internet

Ahhh, the Internet, what a wonderful place. Imagination Station have raised, as of posting, $67,436 from online donations on Kickstarter pledged so Detroit can be forever watched over by RoboCop. The people wanted it and the people are getting it.

What about your city? Which movie are you proud of? Here in Belfast we built The Titanic and have a huge visitor attraction themed around it (which I still believe should be called, 'It Was Okay When It Left Here'). We also manufactured Deloreans here in Northern Ireland and you can visit one dolled up in Back to the Future lights and props for a pose in Belfast City Centre.
A massive amount of Game of Thrones is filmed on our shores, so I can imagine if there is ever to be a theme park legacy for the Starks and co. it will be here in Northern Ireland.

So let me know in comments or on Twitter @rudedoodle what your town or city should have a statue of from the silver screen. In the meantime, lets just enjoy Detroit's Mister Big.

Matchbox 60th Anniversary Collection- As Much For the Dads as the Kids

Kids love car racing video games, but put down a mat with pretend roads on it, give them two or three little Matchbox ​vehicles and they'll invent a whole world on your living room floor. It's a game I remember playing, and Matchbox is the classic toy car brand that has stood the test of time and toy fads and is this year releasing their 60th Anniversary Collection.

We were sent two from the collection to play with, and I called upon my toy testers, husband and son. They had great fun, the scale is similar to Hot Wheels so they were able to use them in my son's existing garage play set.​

There are 24 vehicles in the collection, my son loved the vintage tractor, and they retail at £3.49 each. Great price for pocket money or indeed for a son to buy his dad on Fathers Day this year.​ Available through Amazon and Tesco.

Best yet, I get to keep the beautiful reproduction, classic boxes for my vintage cabinets.​