Sneak Peek at Ikea's PS 2014 Collection. In Store from April.
/This year's PS collection is titled 'On the Move'. I'm definitely buying the little greenhouse to attempt growing watermelon seeds again this summer.
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With a Build-a-Bear Workshop Friend
/Yesterday we visited what is listed as my son's favourite place in the world outside of being somewhere like Disneyland- we went to Build-a-Bear Workshop, Belfast Branch. Sadly we missed out on sharing their Valentine's themed collection this year, but we made the trip to catch the St. Patrick's Day bear.
We also had the chance to make a My Little Pony Build-a-Bear, something we've both been excited about since their launch last Spring. Quite honestly I wanted the rainbow maned one, Rainbow Dash, all for myself, but from my son's first hug of the unstuffed horse, I knew I wasn't getting a look in. The My Little Pony craze is huge, with little boys as well as girls loving the new cartoon. Adults too, of those I knew who already were Rainbow Dash owners, three of those were grown adults, and one of them male!
As with our Christmas visit, Johnathon the store manager took us through the now familiar, still as magical Build-a-Bear Workshop bringing-to-life stages.
First you choose your friend, Rainbow Dash and the snowy white, shimmering shamrock festooned teddy bear. The second stage is choosing a sound for you bear. We chose the My Little Pony theme tune, and for the bear my son settled on One Direction's That's What Makes You Beautiful. The store has lots of One Direction merch for your bear to wear.
The stuffing station is next. You have an option to add a scent which goes inside the paw of your teddy. There were a couple of new additions since Christmas, a pineapple smell which we put in teddy, which smells exactly like Polly Pineapple lollies, and Icing Sugar, which Johnathon correctly compared to Drumstick lollies' scent. Rainbow Dash got an icing sugar smelling hoof.
You also choose a satin heart to put inside with the stuffing, which 'brings your friend to life'. There's an option to buy a £1 charity heart too, or a special battery heart that thumps when pushed from outside the toy. Michael enjoys helping press the foot pedal to work the stuffing machine.
Then it's Michael's favourite part, the combing, fluffing and bathing station. Rainbow Dash's tail got a good few minutes attention!
The all important dressing step. There are beautiful capes for the ponies. Sorry for the blurry photo. Little Spike is available too, for £10.
Johnathon helped us choose a cape, and St. Patrick's Day wear for teddy, who teamed it with a cute reversible tutu (is it wrong to wish for that in adult sizes?)
Check the tounge sticking out. Serious business this fashion.
Another successful Build-a-Bear trip. My son honestly finds the whole experience a blast, and it is hard not to get caught up in the magic of making a unique friend yourself. In fact Michael is going to get me my own My Little Pony for Mothers' Day, maybe you're a mum out there thinking 'YES. I want a pony too', well even if you don't have an actual Build-a-bear Workshop near your home, you can order anything on their online store, including the ponies.
I can also reveal that next month they will be launching Pinkie Pie!
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT- I Have Found A Beauty Range That Smells EXACTLY Like Parma Violets
/If you've followed me on Twitter (@rudedoodle) you may know that my dream is to find a perfume that smells like Parma Violets. In the past few years I've tried Yardley April Violets (too bitter), YSL Parisienne (didn't like it at all) and the closest I found was a Benefit one that still wasn't close enough. I even tried hand made perfumes, made I presume, from Parma Violets, from eBay. As you'd imagine these didn't work at all.
Chemists & beauty halls have lots of lavender, but violet is less popular, so finding my signature scent, of wanting to smell like a roll of Parma Violet sweets, was tricky.
Last week we were up in Belfast to get our hair cut, so my son and I visited the near by shopping centre, Forestside while we were up in that area. I found the very promising Rose & Co Patisserie de Bain Sweet Violet range. There were only a few bits left, so I bought myself the body lotion pot. When I wore it to bed that night all I could smell was Parma Violets. Not slightly, this scent is bang on EXACTLY like the sweet. I knew what I must do. I simply had to contact the lovely folks at Rose & Co to review the entire Sweet Violet range.
Luckily they were up for my offer and today the most fragrant package arrived for me with room sachets (my car will smell like Parma Violets), lip balm, more lotions and potions, I am so chuffed.
Sugared Violet isn't their only range however. Their glorious online store has products in other tempting scents, like coconut ice. There's also a section for the gents.
My Top Picks from Out There Interiors' Home Accessory Treasure Trove
/Faux taxidermy, fusion crockery, over sized regular objects, Out There has lots of fun accessories to customise your living space.
Have you ever seen a bin as cool as this?
I love these official Royal Mail Stamp Rugs too.
It might be just me, but this quirky purple mirror reminds me of Monica's apartment in Friends.
A security camera which is really a mirror in disguise.
"Won't You Regret Those Tattoos When You're Older?" 13 Women Who Don't.
/It's one of the questions heavily tattooed women get asked, "won't you regret those once you're older?". If my tattoos are my biggest regret in my life, then I reckon I'll have lived pretty well.
Here are some bad ass looking, beautiful older women who certainly don't seem to regret their body art. There is a whole generation of tattooed grannies to come in the future, I think we will look pretty interesting to our future grandchildren.
This month 888ladies.com Bingo are holding the 888Ladies Granny Awards, celebrating the coolest, kindest and most special grannies in the UK. Like their FB page to be the first to know how to win exclusive prizes.
This is a sponsored post for 888ladies.com
I've Found the Most Delightful, Quirky Furniture Website, I Just Have to Share with You
/Out There finds furniture you'll want to put in there. 'In there' being your modern, tasteful, subtly quirky home. A picture paints a thousand words, so I'm going to just jump ahead and share with you just some of my Out There wish list. I'm going to need a bigger house.
Coffee tables & side tables.
Most Wanted- crochet table £110
Cartoon coffee table alongside the entire 2D range.
Most wanted- pixelated portraits £875
Most Wanted- the Moo Cabinet £3295
There are literally too many outstanding, World of Kitsch-esque pieces to fit in just one post. Tomorrow I will share their beds, lamps and more with you. Until then you can always have a nosy round the site for yourself .
Dennis the Menace Farting Football
/Yep. You can imagine the giggles this sets off with a six year old. A soft, squishy football that makes cheeky fart noises every time it's hit or kicked- a small child's dream come true. £9.99 from Argos. Just look at that face.
Get Your Pancake Day Supplies From Ikea Today
/Pancake Day tomorrow- make sure you've a nice, new frying pan (£4.75 from Ikea) to make the flipping easier.
