Versatile Blogger Award

I'm very excited to announce the fabulous Anna from The Dusty Attic has nominated me for a Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you, Anna!!

The rules of the VBA are:

Nominate 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award, and tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

My nominations are:

1. Sophie at Cider with Sophie

2. Rhia at Virtual Rhiality
3. Bex at Musings from the Pigeon's Nest
4. Sam at Polkadot Dreams
5. Emma Kate at Painted Style
6. Kezzie at KezzieAG
7. Jen at Sparklegirl
8. Katy at Sparkle and Shine
9. Emma at Emsipop
10. Tea, Cake and Make
11. Victoria at Lily loves Lola
12. CathGrace at CathGrace
13. Laura at Wrapped Up In Rainbows
14. Anna at Miss Beatrix
15. Blue Eyed Night Owl


My seven mildly interesting factoids about me, are:

1. The "1" button on our microwave stopped working about three months ago. Everything else still works fine, so we've kept it (as we're all eco and schizz), but it means I now have to enter "90" instead of "1.30". I'm anticipating that if I continue with such taxing mathematical challenges I'll be able to win on Countdown.

2. I brush my hair before I go to bed, not when I wake up. I like how big it gets when it's knotty, but if I didn't brush it daily I'd end up with one huge dreadlock.

3. I'm a total hypochondriac and should be banned from Googling any kind of medical problem. It takes two sneezes and a stray eyebrow hair for me to become convinced that I've got some kind of tropical disease that is actually only carried by llamas.

4. There are several words I always struggle with spelling, including Mediterranean and disappointment. Thankfully, I don't have to write about rubbish holidays to Italy very often, so no-one else has noticed this.

Damn you, tricksy sea!

5. I picked up my (some would say annoying) habit of using excessive numbers of emoticons from my Aunt, who's written them in her letters for as long as I can remember. Well before texting and The Internet became popular, anyway.

6. There are some things I've resigned myself to never understanding. Mainly physics, chemistry, and The Matrix. I'm OK at maths though, and I understood both Bill and Ted movies. Win some, lose some. 

7. The most scared I've ever been in my life was when I flew to Los Angeles with my nan (Pam, maker of excellent jam), on our way to Australia. Pam was really dehydrated from the flight, but I didn't notice. We decided to have a nap when we got to our hotel, jetlag be damned, but I was woken up shortly afterwards by an almighty crash. Pam had fallen over in the bathroom, smashed her face on the marble counter top and knocked herself out. It was terrifying. Even more so than when I was accidentally involved in a drag race through Delhi, and the time that a burglar managed to open my bedroom window at 3am. There are no words to say how thankful I am that Pam is still alive and well today (and still making incredible jam). 

The brilliant Pam, fully recovered, later on our Aussie adventure. 

Thanks again for the award, Anna :) 

Katie xxx

Delightful deja vu

Well whaddayaknow - I've been lucky enough to be nominated for another Liebster award! Yippee!

This time I've been nominated by the brilliant Rhia from Virtual Rhiality (do you see what she did there?). The rules of the Leibster award centre round the number 11. Answer 11 questions, write down 11 facts, nominate 11 bloggers, and ask them 11 questions. A whole lot of 11s.

Rhia's 11 questions for me:

1. What is your favourite book or author?

I've recently developed a serious obsession for witty Victorian mystery novels with huge brooding men (werewolfness optional), a fair bit of swooning around in corsets, and detailed descriptions of the repeated consumption of afternoon tea.

So far this year I've devoured the entire Alexia Tarabotti series by Gail Carriger and the Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourn. Both series' are absolute genius; I've loved every single book so far and will now be spending my days impatiently tapping my foot until the next instalment is released. 

2. What is your favourite type of cake?

ALL CAKE. If I had a gun to my head and was forced to pick one (by some baked-goods-opinion-poll-obsessed psychopath) I'd have to go chocolate. The birthday cake I made myself this year was pretty damn good, even if I do say so myself....

3. What's the one thing you love that most people you know hate or dislike?

The musical musings of Britney Spears. Pretty much all my friends listen to "cool" music and have no time for Britney. It's a good thing they've all got a few other nice characteristics or I probably wouldn't be friends with them any more....

If you don't have time for Britney, I probably won't have time for you. 

4. Favourite sandwich?

Hmmm... tricky. I'm going to go for extra mature Cheddar cheese and Marmite on thickly sliced fresh tiger loaf with butter. I very rarely eat bread so, rather ridiculously, sandwiches are a bit of a treat for me (says the girl who eats bars and bars of chocolate every day).

5. Favourite childhood toy?

I had several favourite toys when I was little, including:

• A bear called Andrew; who now sits on top of our dining room dresser
• A doll called Gabrielle; who was the reason I discovered the Tooth Fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny *whispers* weren't real. I tried not to hold a grudge against her about it, but we ended up falling out and I have no idea where she is now. Sorry, Gabs.
• A knitted version of Ted Glen from Postman Pat, which my Mum was FORCED to make me because every time he came on TV I'd go and kiss the screen. Apparently, even when I was 2 I had a thing for handy men with excellent facial hair....

Errr.... swoon?

6. Favourite colour?

Blue. Another bane of my poor Mother's life - not only was her TV screen covered in affectionate toddler smudges, but at the same time I insisted to only be dressed in blue. And absolutely NO DRESSES. Thankfully my younger sibling is of the male persuasion, and it was therefore rather handy in the end that my Mum had lots of blue dungarees lying around. 

7. If you could invent one thing to make your life easier what would it be? 

A machine that could exercise your body for you whilst you slept. I hate exercising, and how great would it be to clock up eight hours of dreams about huge plates of waffles, and wake up with a body like Rhianna's?!

Damn you Rhianna and your self-control with not eating too many waffles.

8. If you could learn one new skill/language/craft etc what would it be?

I'd love to learn how to do proper upholstery, although I think I'd also have to learn the art of patience to go with it. I'd also love to be able to paint. Then again, speaking another language would also be rather awesome- I'm absolutely hopeless at picking up languages. 

9. If you were a superhero what would your power/name be?

Sarcastagirl. I'd be really good at busting through windows, tossing around a few scathing comments, then wandering off in search of a cup of tea and a snack. 

10. If you had a whole day to yourself & loads of money; where would you go? What would you do?

I'd charter a private plane to take me, Tom, and my parents somewhere exciting like Iceland or Rome. My parents have only really travelled as far as France, and I'd love to show my Mum some more exotic places. We'd be picked up at the crack of dawn and nap on the plane before a day of exploring. Naturally, the plane would come complete with a five star chef to make us an excellent breakfast to keep us fuelled for a whole day of adventures. I'm thinking waffles. Mmmm.... waffles

Iceland. Not too far for a day trip, right?

11. If you could achieve one thing this year what would it be?

Currently, my biggest goal is to get a job where I can write for a living. Preferably waffling on about velvet sofas, floral patterned teacups, and storing beautifully shaped pasta in jars. 

11 facts about me:

1. One of my incisors is yellowy-orange at the end. It's something that happened when my Mum was cooking me in her belly, so no amount of bleach or whitening toothpaste will ever get rid of it. I don't mind it really though, because it reminds me of an upside-down candy corn sweet.

Corn toof.

2. I really don't like the sensation of wet jeans/trousers against my legs, or damp hair pressing against my neck. It makes me cross. 

3. I've used a knife and fork to eat a meal about three times in the last decade. Most of the time I just use a fork- it's one of my party tricks.

4. When I was younger, I never felt the cold. I'd wear tiny shorts and t-shirts in the depths of winter (at the time I had no thighs and the abs to go with them). Then I went skiing on a school trip and have pretty much felt cold ever since. I think the cold got into my bones. Now I'm cold all the time, but it's ok because I don't have the thighs or abs for tiny clothes any more anyway. 

Perhaps there's a direct correlation between cheesecake consumption and feeling chilly?

5. Tom and I cook pretty much everything from scratch with the exception of pasta and bread (which we're working on starting soon). Tom is brilliant at seasoning, chopping, and using herbs and spices.... I am sous chef and mostly in charge of grating cheese and making gravy. At least one of which features heavily in most of our dinners. 

6. I love being the wingman of the party. Not the life and soul of the party; but sitting next to the life and soul of the party chipping in with reasonably witty observations when I feel like they'll get a good laugh*. But there are some days where I feel very quiet indeed and just like to sit and observe.

7. I think my Mum is absolutely beautiful- she has so many laughter lines and I hope I have twice as many when I get to her age. She also has the kindest heart.

8. When I was little, my parents encouraged me to learn the piano. They took me to a lovely teacher with a tabby cat called Tabitha. I can't remember what the lady's name was now, but I remember having a massive tantrum in her back garden after passing my Grade 1 and saying I didn't want to do it any more. My parents said I didn't have to, but warned me I'd regret it. So I stopped. And I do. 

Imagine those last two sentences accompanied by sad piano music. But played in completely the wrong tempo, and with only the right hand, because I can't play the piano. Boooo.

9. My parents have just moved from a house an hour away into a flat at the end of our road. The first question everyone asked me when I told them was "And how do YOU feel about that?". Haha.

10. I have really vivid dreams, and can sometimes remember them for hours after I've woken up. Which is (mostly) fun.

11. I'm no good at hiding my emotions on my face. My bestie can tell when I'm being judgemental even before I can!

I like to imagine my judgemental face looks like this. 

Once again, I'm going to break the rules (because this is technically my fifth Leibster award**), and just answer the questions and write the facts. However, you should all definitely answer Rhia's questions on your blogs too because they're a lot of fun. 

Katie xxx

* My ego is sometimes like a very needy cat; furry and requiring constant stroking.

** I might build a virtual awards trophy somewhere on the internet

Awards galore!

'Sup my peeps?

I've been lucky enough to be nominated for TWO more Leibster Awards this week (my third and fourth nominations- hurrah!) by the magical Charis and the  wonderful Anna. So I get to answer lots of lovely questions (and you lovely lot get to skim-read my answers looking for pictures of Joe Manganiello. I'm going to work him in there somewhere...). 

Charis' questions:

What is your favourite book and why? "The Last Slice of Rainbow" by Joan Aiken. I remember this book from my childhood and recently bought another copy to re-read all of the brilliant short stories; which include one about the many uses for slices of rainbow. 

Rainbows: the mod podge of the weather.

Which season is your favourite? Pepper. Definitely pepper. Oh, wait. Erm... spring, I think. It's got my birthday in it (hint hint), everyone's getting happier as the evenings are getting lighter, and it's still cold enough that I can wear big Granddad jumpers.

What is your favourite TV show? I'm currently loving The Big Bang Theory, Archer, Bob's Burgers, Flight of the Conchords and New Girl- I definitely can't pick just one. Shows that make me laugh; preferably with a will-they-won't-they love interest, and a child with a rabbit ears hat.

 

Which craft do you enjoy the most? Quick ones. I can cross-stitch pretty speedily and I like that it is in squares (there are few things in life that fit exactly into little boxes). I am also really enjoying decoupaging furniture; it's such an instant transformation.

Where is the best place you've ever been on holiday? I loved our trip to Norfolk last year; it was so relaxed, and the company was pretty darn cool. Tom and I went to the Isle of Wight a few years ago, and that was also pretty great. Funny, really- as I've also been to Paris, Barcelona, Dublin, Rome, Dubrovnik, Venice, New York... yet the ones in this country have been my favourites. I guess because they've been so completely chilled out. 

Also a teenage trip to Disneyland I took with two friends and a friend's little sister- as a surprise to cheer her up when her parents announced they were separating. We didn't sleep for four days, stole rucksack-fuls of bread rolls and cheese from the breakfast buffet to have for our lunch, and spent about six hours going round and round on the pirate ride coming up with more and more ridiculous innuendos about shivering timbers. 

What is your most over-used word? Awesome. And cake. 

Describe your everyday fashion style? Unusual jumpers and polkadots. Always, always, black tights (never bare legs. Never.)

What is your favourite recipe? Tom and I have been slowly adapting a burrito recipe that was originally four ingredients and seems to expand every time we make it (and get more delicious). It's still one of my favourite quick-and-easy dinners. And we had it last night. I think I accidentally just answered the question "If you have a stupidly short-term memory, what was the last thing you ate?".

What is your favourite movie? I've actually answered this one before in my first blog award...

And it has this moustache it in.

What makes you happy? Tom. Hugs. Chocolate. Tea. Being cosy in my pyjamas. Hanging out with my Mum. Being ridiculous with my friends. Finding a really brilliant book (and devouring said book alongside chocolate and tea whilst being cosy in my pyjamas). 

What is the strangest food you have ever eaten? When a girlfriend and I were backpacking in India, we ordered a vegetarian curry in a local restaurant. When it arrived, there were chunks of what looked like, smelt like, and tasted like (my friend tried it; she's not a veggie) chicken. We interrogated the manager because, obviously, I was rather hungry and eating chicken would break my "no food with a face" rule. Cornered by two hungry backpackers, he verbally flailed and decided to insist that the main ingredient was in fact "Ch, ch-, ch-EECH"; a local, vegetable delicacy. So, I've almost eaten Cheech; an Indian vegetable made of chicken...

Don't have photo of the "cheech". So here's us in India wetting ourselves in fear whilst riding an elephant. It started GROWLING at us!!

Anna's questions:

What is your guilty pleasure? There are actually very few pleasures in my life that I feel guilty about. Yes, I eat a lot of cake. Yes, I listen to pop music that would probably make any music snob's ears bleed. Yes, I put my pyjamas on as soon as I get home from work. Judge all you want, because I don't care (and I can't hear your judgements over Britney's melodic warblings of Do Somethin anyway). If I had to choose one, it would probably be buying the occasional Country-Lives-and-Kitchen-Makeovers-with-pictures-of-beautiful-stuff-from-Next-home-and-Oliver-Bonas magazine; I can't shake the feeling that it's a waste of money to spend over £4 on paper versions of pictures I could probably find on the internet. Although the internet doesn't let you fold down the corners of the pages. 


What is your favourite joke? I'm HOPELESS at remembering jokes, but I particularly liked this one from Emma when she entered my recent giveaway:

2 monkeys are sitting in a bath.

One says "Ooo ooo aahhh ahhh ahhh"

The other says "Well put some cold in then!"

Chocolate or crisps? Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate *scoffs some chocolate*

What was your favourite TV programme from your childhood? I loved Joggy Bear a LOT. That guy taught me how to brush my teeth, had an excellent theme tune, and insisted that spandex was a perfectly acceptable daytime outfit. WIN. 

What is your earliest memory? Watching The Snowman with my little brother, and looking outside to see that it was snowing!! Magical times indeed. 

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I love where I live; I don't think I'd change it for the world. Friends and family nearby, close to Brighton if I need a rave (or some cheap-and-cheerful socks from Primark) and able to spend weekends pottering in my lovely cobbled-street town. Although I might move to one of the big houses in the town centre, so Tom and I could move in some of our mates. 

What’s your thought on marriage, do you believe in it and do you ever want to be married? I don't believe it makes a relationship any stronger or better than it was before marriage. I think everyone should have the right to get married if they want to (to who- or whatever they want to), but it should be a choice for the two people getting married and shouldn't be used as a yardstick to measure the validity of relationships. That said, I tell people Tom and I are "mort-gaged" (like engaged) and he's my "finance"; we've got a house together, and we're together for life whether we're wearing rings or not. Haha- gutted, Tom. 

We're mortgaged!!

Who do you look up to most in life? Basketball players. And my Mum. She's just so kind to everyone. 

Have you ever stolen anything? I once ran off from my Mum in Woolworths and hid under the Pic'n'Mix stand, where I scoffed a single (wrapped) sweet that had fallen on the floor. I was only little, and my poor Mum was frantically looking for me everywhere. Needless to say, I was too busy getting the filched bits of toffee out of my molars to realise she was getting the whole shop out looking for me. Sorry, Mum :(

Have you ever been on stage? Indeed I have; I used to be in a "band" (when I was at school- we weren't exactly label material!), and I've done my fair share of karaoke. My parents decided to sign me and my little brother up for ballet classes when we were younger, and there's some old footage somewhere of me and 15 other little girls flitting about the stage dressed as fairies, and my little brother in the middle, on his own, crying, and dressed as an elf. Bless his tiny pointy hat. I, of course, did not help him in his distress because I was too busy channelling Tinkerbell. Duh. 


My eleven questions:

1. Do you have a motto you try and live by?
2. Is wearing leggings as trousers actually acceptable*?
3. What's your proudest achievement to date?
4. If you were given the chance to look at your life five years into the future would you take it?
5. If you were granted three wishes, what would you wish for? 
6. What's your favourite thing to have for breakfast?
7. What one thing would you say to your 16-year-old self, now? (Borrowed from Emma-Kate, because I thought it was an excellent question)
8. If you could change one thing about yourself (it doesn't have to be physical) what would you change and why? 
9. Lord of the Rings trilogy (films): too long, or still not enough Orc-time?
10. If you could design your dream house, what would it be like? Light? Airy? Made of gingerbread?
11. Joe Manganiello - hot or not*? (Phew! Just scraped that one in there!!)

I'm not going to nominate anyone in particular because most of you are well past 200 readers (you lucky ducks!) but please do let me know if you've answered these and put a little link in the comments below. 

You're also meant to write 11 interesting facts about yourself; but I'm not going to because all my "facts" are about cake and that makes me sad. 

Katie xxx

* Just kidding- these are, of course, both trick questions. 

Blog Award Number 2

Ok, so this is technically the same award as my first blog award, but people are allowed to have two Oscars, right? Normally people who are in The Movies, I would imagine... Also, I want to answer the 11 questions, because they are fun. 

The lovely Emma Kate at Painted Style (who, by the way, is this week's Blog of the Week) has nominated me for a Leibster Award. You can read more about it here. I've whiled away a rainy afternoon answering Emma Kate's questions, but I'm not going to do the other parts because 1. I've done them all before (and can't think of another 11 interesting facts about myself- how boring I must be!) and 2. I'm a total rebel and don't play by the rules. I'm definitely the kind of person who'd feed a Gremlin after midnight.

1. Why did you start blogging?

I wanted to use my blog to record my completed craft projects; so whenever I felt useless or unproductive I'd have a place to go to remind myself that I DO make things, and they are good (normally *ahem*)

2. Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

I have had far too many celebrity crushes throughout my life. At the moment my biggest crush is probably Joe Manganiello, but Tom looks basically the same as him anyway, just without the necklace. Honest.

This is definitely not a gratuitous picture. Emma Kate ASKED me to share my celeb crush ok?!

3. What are you scared of?

Ghost train rides and haunted houses (the ones you can find in theme parks), bad things happening to the people I love, my own imagination (it can run absolutely riot without my permission and I'll be suddenly convinced the entire undead cast of the Sixth Sense is standing right behind me), and spiders. I never used to be scared of spiders when I was little. I blame mob mentality. 

4. Where would you like a holiday home?

Is it cheating if I say I'd like a campervan type thing, so I could move my holiday home around with me? Something like this would be rather nice...

5. Tell me a burning ambition?

To do something creative as my career, and to have a big country-style kitchen where we can entertain friends. 

6. What is your home decor style?

I like to think our home decor is fun. It's a rather unique mixture of Country Living magazine meets toy shop meets pub. It's VERY colourful. 

7. Who is your favourite clothing designer?

Proper designer wise, I'd have to say Vivienne Westwood because she seems mental and I love tartan. Aside from her, I love the design team at H&M- I've got more clothes from there than any other high street shop. 

8. Are you a cat person or a dog person?

Can I have people person? If I have to choose, I'll say cat.

9. What advice would you give your 16 year old self?

"Stop being dramatic about unsuitable boys; we end up with a brilliant one, so spend your free time doing something useful like learning to moonwalk -instead of obsessing about gawky kids with bum-fluff on their chins."

10. Whose was the first blog you followed? (Not necessarily in an official followy way)

I think it was my bestie's blog on tumblr. She's since moved to blogger. 

11. What do you look for and enjoy most of all in other peoples blogs?

Wit, honesty, and pictures of before/after kitchen makeovers. 

Katie xxx 

My first blog award!

I am very excited to report I've received my first ever blog award! I've been nominated for the Liebster award by the lovely Laura from Wrapped Up In Rainbows :) It's given me a warm, fuzzy feeling in my belly- like I've eaten hot candyfloss :p

Here's a description of the award (taken from Laura's page):
The Liebster award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

The rules for receiving this award
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves
2. Answer the questions that the tagger set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. No tag backs

11 Things About Me
1. I have man-sized (size 9) feet that are both a curse (no pretty shoes) and a blessing (I haven't spent approximately a billion pounds on pretty shoes)
2. I sing loudly and badly in the shower, without shame.
3. I don't wear make-up, except for concealer- and only then if I have a spot on my face that's so big I know people will spend the day talking to it instead of me.
4. I used to be so shy that I blushed when I had to answer the register in school.
5. I'm very proud and grateful to have achieved my ambition of owning my own house- something I've wanted since I was five years old and making mood-boards from pictures of furniture I'd ripped from the Argos catalogue.
6. I am afraid of ghost train rides- the cheesier they are the more scared I become.
7. I've only fought with my little brother once in 22 years- and it was over Wensleydale cheese.
8. I once accidentally flashed three people my left boob.
9. I've been a vegetarian for 13 years.
10. I used to be in a cover band.
11. I have two birth marks; one on my left wrist, and one on my left ankle.

Laura's Questions
1. If you were a Superhero, what would your superpower be?
Funnily enough, I was actually thinking about this earlier today! I would like to be able to move things with my mind- just like Matilda! And (if it's not cheating) it would include being able to move my own body so I could fly. Does that count as two?
2. What is your favourite film?
Hmmm... this is such a tricky question! The first film that springs to mind for me is The Princess Bride. Partly for sentimental reasons; it's a very nostalgic film for me as I've watched it countless times with the girl I count as my sister.

Aaaaaas yoooooouuuu wiiiiiiiiiisssssssshhhhhhh <3

3. What did you want to grow up to be when you were younger?
Lots of different things; and I still haven't stopped changing my mind on What I Want To Be When I Grow Up. I wanted to be a vet, a primary school teacher, and an interior designer (not all at once!)
4. If you were sent to a desert island with only 3 items, what would they be?
I'm trying to work out if this is meant to be a "Wiiiiilllllsoooonnnnnn!" kind of situation, or a desert-island holiday. First scenario items would be; solar powered trucker radio thingamagig and instructions, penknife, and some flares (solar, not corduroy). Second scenario items; my boyfriend (I know, bleaurgh! :p), my kindle, and a solar-powered freezer full of water and white Magnums.

5. What would your perfect day consist of?
A lazy Sunday revolving around food; a snuggly lie-in followed by stacks of pancakes, an hour or two reading a good book and drinking tea on the sofa, an afternoon roast at the pub with friends, and a cosy evening watching a film, scoffing chocolate and sewing something pretty.
6. What is the silliest thing you can remember doing?
Going on a midnight "night mission" around Chichester with my two best friends from school- dressed in hats, coats and shoes we'd pinched from the hallway cupboards. We filmed the whole thing too; so I own hand-cam shots of our best ninja moves and all three of us hiding behind one lamppost.
7. Which blog do you spend most time reading?
When I first discovered Matsutake and Color Me Katie I read their entire post archives over the space of a few days. I now wait eagerly for any new posts like they're a shiny new toy on Christmas morning.
8. Do you have any bad habits?
Whilst I don't actually bite my nails regularly, if one of them breaks I'll bite it off rather than finding the nail clippers. I know; shameful and gross.
9. If you could have a dinner party with any 5 people, dead or alive, who would you pick?
I'd invite my (deceased) paternal grandparents, whom I never really got to meet, my Dad, my brother, and my Dad's sister.
10. Who is your idol? Famous or not.
I don't think I "idolise" anyone; but I love Kirstie Allsopp and Nigella Lawson because they are both beautiful, busty brunettes who are paid to do the things I would love to do for a living (sewing, snooping round other peoples' houses, hanging out with Phil Spencer, and sneaking brownies from the fridge at 3am in a negligee that shows off a rather amazing cleavage).

I'm positively green-eyed with envy that Kirstie gets paid to hang out with Phil AND snoop round people's houses.

11. In 10 years what 3 things do you hope to have achieved?
In ten years' time I would like to:
- Be a few rungs up the career ladder of my dreams.
- Have figured out the career of my dreams
- Have some small people living in our house I can dress up as pirates, build a tree-house for in the garden, and bake dinosaur cookies with.

The blogs I'm nominating are:
Make, Bake & Sew - enviously delicious baking
Alicestronaut - lover of fictional maps and wearer of superhero tights
Doll Doll Dolly - rock chick capable of some serious crafting
Fran Swaine - well-worded tips and tricks for anyone who uses the internet
Hello Dodo - photos of pigeons and beautiful Brighton-themed goodies
Pleasing to a mollbird - alliteration abounds, with witticisms galore
The Happy Caravan - exciting before-and-after pics of lovingly restored caravans
Charismagick - This lucky lady has met Jamie Oliver, Bill Bailey and Dylan Moran!
Curtains for the window in my head - consistently interesting posts, and excellent hair
Sparkle Girl Jen - retro comics, delicious baking, and sunny Canadian adventures
Lyndsey Smith Painting - wonderfully detailed hand-painted pictures; I've got this one of my favourite local cafe on my fridge

My 11 Questions:
1. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
2. Do you have any songs that always cheers you up?
3. If you had to lose one of your senses, which one would you choose?
4. Have you got any piercings?
5. Do you know all the moves to the Steps cover of Tragedy?
6. What is your favourite cake?
7. Do you have a go-to joke if people ask you to tell one?
8. Have you ever been in the media (TV, radio, newspapers etc.)?
9. What's your proudest achievement to date?
10. If you had to change your name to something else, what would you choose?
11. If you could switch places with someone for a day, who would you choose and why?

Obviously, don't feel like you have to stick to the rules about this :)

However, I would highly recommend having a peep at any/all of the blogs above for some entertaining, inspiring, and downright beautiful content.

Katie xx