The Interior DIYer
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Lifestyle Blogger Meetup

At the beginning of March this landed in my inbox thanks to Emily of From China Village about a blogger meetup here in Dublin. She invited me along after spying my write up in the Jan / Feb issue of House and Home. After I calmed myself down, I of course accepted. It took place last night and we really couldn’t have asked for better weather, location, or company … 

It all took place in Avoca Malahide where we were thoroughly spoiled in both the aesthetic and stomach regions. This next bit is going to sound uber lame – this was the first time I had ever met other bloggers face to face. Before last night, I had never had a proper conversation {face to face} with anyone about the pros and cons, dos and don’ts, tips and tricks of blogging. It was surreal and so much fun and I cannot wait to do it again. I wish we could have talked all night. Emily – deffo count me in for the next time.
We didn’t escape without being further spoiled with a gift bag from Avoca – their cafe cookbook and apron look well tidy in my new kitschen corner. Well played, Avoca. 

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Giveaway – hydrangea painting by Hilda Oomen

PLEASE NOTE THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED, but you are more than welcome to continue to creep. 

I am over-the-moon excited today to announce my very first … 

If you like hydrangeas half as much as I do, you’ll be tore up from the floor up with this little number. I was worried I’d jinx myself if I announced it any earlier as it was still in transit, but luckily this baby arrived this morning. Take it all in / drink it up …

Valued at $130, this 8×8 inch piece of heaven on canvas board is full of what I adore – hydrangea perfection in neutral tones of white, grey, beige and black in oil paint done by the painfully talented Hilda Oomen. Absolute eye candy for fellow hydrangea afficianados. Or, a perfect Mothers Day gift should you celebrate the day in May this year. Unframed and unmatted so you can style however you please. Just a little something to say thank you for supporting me and my ideas these past years. I know. Mucho lame and sappy. 

Here are the giveaway guidelines …
– You can enter if you are a current follower via Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Yep, my first giveaway it is limited to existing followers only. Next time it’s a free-for-all, but this time around it’s a thank you to my followers, so you have to be part of the club {p.s. I’m happy to ship internationally, so it don’t matter where you live}
– Leave a comment below on this blog post; please leave your name or pseudonym {annonymous comments won’t make the cut}. You can link to your website / include a Twitter username etc. if you like – something I can use to get in contact with you 
– It’s that easy
I will be picking a winner at random on Monday the 15th of April, so you have from now until then to  submit your comment before I rig it so I can keep this beaut all for myself. If I can’t get in contact with the winner after 7 days, I will choose a new winner. 

And of course, more from the crazy-talented Hilda, feast your eyes on these pretties …

Just awesome. You can see all of Hilda’s incredible paintings over on her Etsy shop. Best of luck, homies 🙂
xx A

Image cred 5, 6, 7.
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Happy Easter!

Early this morning I pulled out some spring decorations and hid a couple of Easter treats for husband – the Easter bunny didn’t hide eggs in his house when he was growing up, so I’ve been spoiling him every Easter since. I should say, the Easter bunny usually isn’t so classy to leave Ferrero Rocher, it’s a case that our local shops were out of the regular kind, and bunny made do with what was available. 

I dug out one of my favourite charity shop purchases from when husband and I visited Canada in 2007 – a tin in the shape of a picnic basket from Goodwill. It’s seen better days as on the trip back to Ireland the lid got smushed in my luggage. I’ve been meaning for years to tap it back into shape. 
And below – my first ever stuffed animal, Honey Bunny. My dad bought her the day I was born and I’ve had her ever since. No better time of year to take center stage. 

I hope you all have a Happy Easter and an excellent long weekend full of chocolate and crafting. I’ve had my share of chocolate already today and the remainder of the weekend will be a gargantuan test of my incredibly low level of willpower. xx A