Times a changin'

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for being so patient regarding my sudden blogging hiatus. Your comments have been just lovely and so appreciated!

Well, about a month ago I found out I am pregnant. Wonderful news, as it is very much tried for and wanted! Unfortunately I've been suffering from severe Morning Sickness, otherwise known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum, to the point where I was unable to work or function normally (let alone blog!), and eventually hospitalised to be IV'd. After a bit of trial and error I have now found some drugs that are working for me, but I am still laying low, looking after myself and, oh yes, thinking of nothing other than babies, babies, babies. Isn't it funny the way the mind becomes completely preoccupied?! I'm nearly at the end of my first trimester now, so am hoping the MS wears off asap, so I can ween myself off the drugs and into the world of natural pregnancy. Bring it on!

As a result of this dramatic change in my life, I have decided to close the door on MLF. I feel it would be unfair of me to dump all my baby related fashion musings into you lovely people, especially when many of you either havn't had babies, or have, but some time ago now. Actually, right now I'm not having any fashion musings at all, let alone baby related ones. I'm just trying to keep waistbands off my tummy (urghhh feeling!), and am floating around in loose dresses, hipster leggings and whatever else feels comfortable. But I know I will become obsessed with pregnancy clothing soon, and I'm clear headed (just!) enough to know that only other pregnant women would ever, could ever, appreciate these sorts of obsessive conversations and musings.

So, I will still be around the blogging world, and of course I will remain a dutiful reader of all your wonderful blogs and will continue to leave comments and love hearts everywhere. It's just the end of the road for my blog you see. I feel I've met some truely wonderful people through my blog, all our blogs, and I've really valued our connections and friendships. I do hope and plan to look you all up when I eventually come to your various parts of the globe. Is that ok?

If any of you would like to keep in touch via FaceBook, my full name is Henriette Brettell, and although I'm sure I'm the only gal around with that name, I'm in the New Zealand network (just in case there's any confusion!). I'd love to be FaceBooky friends with you!

So dear readers and friends, goodbye goodbye. It's been a blast, a hoot and we've had some great fun havn't we? See you around the blogosphere.

Much love and kisses,

MLF xxx

Silence`

Just a quick drive by to say how sorry I am about my awful lack of posting of late. I'm feeling a little under the weather, so may be off the radar for a little while. However, I will be catching up on all your blogs, and most certainly leaving little comments and love hearts now and again.
I will return! xxx

For Moi?!

The infamously lovely Iris from Fleur Délice recently awarded me (among others) for this wonderful blog award! It's so exciting, as I've never recieved a blog award before. Of course, I am rather late in posting about this due to my unplanned blogging hiatus, so I'm hoping Iris will not be terribly offended. Sorry Iris! I'm thinking of it as 'saving the best for last'.
So, here are the 'rules';

* Copy the logo and place it on your own blog
* Link it back to the person who gave it to you
* Pass it on to five fellow bloggers
* List 10 things about yourself

My five fellow bloggers I would like to pass this along to are;
Alfalfa Crafts
Baby Mac
Ballarat Vintage Style
Le blog de Stéphanie
Little Byrd Vintage

Of course, I have many many more favorite bloggers, but a) I can only tag 5 and b) Iris and I read many of the same blogs and she tagged out mutual bloggy friends first. So I am happy to maybe introduce to you some wonderful blogs you mayn't know about? Do you? Go have a look! You will not be dissapointed, I promise.

Ok, now for the 10 things about me;

1. I was born in London, UK, but have lived much of my life in New Zealand. I have also lived stints in Melbourne, Australia; Jakarta, Indonesia and again back in London, UK. I've also travelled to many more places inbetween. My blood lines are English, Scandinavian and French, although sadly I only speak English and very basic Swedish.
   
2. I have a fear of being dwarfed by certain things, namely hot air balloons and hulls of boats.
3. I adore mid century Scandinavian furniture, mid century American architecture and modern art.
4. I am a compulsive organiser, and have been known to even shock myself with the extreme levels I can take this to.
5. I live my life through my visual sense, and compulsively beautify everything around me.
6. Black tea with soy milk is my only vice. I don't have an addictive personality at all, but without black tea I may just die.
7. I've never had strange female body/eating hang-ups. Most of my adult life I've been a healthy, curvy size 10-12. As long as my body works healthily and feels fit, I am happy. I find it intruiging and strange that so many women obsess over their weight and body shapes, to the point of counting calories.............Pass me another cupcake now, will you please?
8. I'm always the first person on the dance floor.
   
9. I can't wait to be a Grandmother.
10. I love to cook, but am an awful gardener.

There you go! Now, don't forget if you've been tagged above to copy the image and paste it to your very own blog. Then tag 5 ppl and post 10 things about you xxx

And now I'm 33.....

What I wore:
Navy silk dress: Country Road sale
Red vintage French cardigan: School fair
Charcoal Tights: CR
Boots: Italy

....Oh my, I am getting on am I not?! Yesterday (Thurs 30th July) I turned a grand old 33 years of age. I had a lovely day thank you! And here's what I did;

• Got woken up to breakfast in bed by LOML

• Opened presents from LOML and my two wonderful aunts who reside in Stockholm, Sweden and London, UK (mostly requested books but also a big fat package of Swedish fashion in pictures)

• Eased into the day with a hot bath and the baking of a batch of vanilla biscuits, enjoyed with a pot of fresh coffee in the sunny garden

• Out to lunch at Yum Char. If you've never been to Yum Char before, you must. Not only for the delicious food but the general atmosphere and fun style of service!

• Stroll around the Parnell Rose Gardens, unfortunately most were not in bloom, but it was lovely to wander anyway.

• Tea and rasberry friands at the Takapuna Beach Cafe`, overlooking the wintery grey calm seas

• Home again home again, wherein LOML cooked a corn fed free range roast chicken, and my lovely little brother came over to help us demolish it

• Evening concluded watching dvd episodes of 'Summer Heights High', clutching full bellies and wondering if we put on 5 or 10kg's in one day? I'm thinking 10, as my jeans definatly do not fit me today.
  

Oh dear xxx

I'm back.......

....I am so sorry for my unplanned blogging hiatus. However, it's so nice to come home and see a few friendly comments, and to have a quick peek on my Google Reader to see what y'all have been up to. Of all the things I missed (not having computer access), I must say FaceBook came last and Blogging came first. Which is so lovely I think!
My trip to the Gold Coast was really great. I went to place called Burleigh Heads to stay with my dear friend and her 3 yr old daughter, my God daughter. It was lovely and warm, and I generally spent the week strolling around in the sun, reading books on the beach and sending time with said friends. I completely broke my budget, not only on a smattering of shopping, but also in the dreaded Duty Free. Oh my, I was a naughty spender. But more about that later. My bath is going cold, and I must get up and out into the day. I have another whole week off! This time with LOML, so we're spending it swanning around the house getting things fixed/done/hung, and punctuating all the housework with a few luxurious lunches........
But I PROMISE a proper post with pictures and words and love and stuff soon. Promise xxx

Oh yes, you are.......

I was sent a link to this site Operation Beautiful by a friend this morning. Go take a look. I really, really love what they're doing. You can join in too! Yup, you really truely can xxx

Housekeeping

I have again reached a place where I've needed to review all the blogs I'm following and reading through Google Reader. Subscribing to so many blogs, I find I have this uncontrollable urge to read each and every post. Of course, this is not possible on any given day, and subsequently I feel a little overwhelmed and as if I havn't achieved what I've set myself up for. Do you ever get these feelings, or are you content to read your subscribed blogs intermittantly? I'm a terrible perfectionist.........sigh!
So, if you notice you've slipped off my 'following' radar, don't worry, I still have you all there. Just in a seperate little folder that I can happily keep partially closed, just enough not to induce feelings of incomplete perfectionism and panic!
Ignore me really, I just have to compulsively organise everything around me xxx