Modern Design Home Decor

Post Of The Month Club: April

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Posted by Happy Homemaker UK</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"></span></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Coming off a royal high, </span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">yesterday was completely over-the-top wonderful</span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">We watched the magnificent wedding with friends</span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I just think the newlyweds make the cutest couple,</span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and I'm still spellbound by Kate's and Pippa's dresses</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Our super-fun neighborhood street party lasted until 11p</span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">The icing on the cake was my daughter winning a prize for her 'I Love England' cake!</span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="color: black;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJsArAd9NdINTpytHG3DTD_o3Ddd2FY_ZRB3jy7YlHJu7uuAIeIOL0avQtv9WsJHeAl7owTZlm9PQxnZY0j2QyIRbYNTHvojbc7-p3iAzUwxjGnKDpojFNb61G-fyqXtGgy9XDOmtNiw/s1600/3777238_x86YJNrK_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJsArAd9NdINTpytHG3DTD_o3Ddd2FY_ZRB3jy7YlHJu7uuAIeIOL0avQtv9WsJHeAl7owTZlm9PQxnZY0j2QyIRbYNTHvojbc7-p3iAzUwxjGnKDpojFNb61G-fyqXtGgy9XDOmtNiw/s400/3777238_x86YJNrK_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/3777238/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">So welcome to another 'Post Of The Month Club' party</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Oh my goodness, I am so excited you are here!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">It wouldn't be the same without you :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/03/post-of-month-club-march.html">Last month</a>, we sat in my little napping house, but you know I like to mix it up</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">So today I saved you a seat next to me on this retro ferris wheel</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Wheee! Snow cone?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">And I must say...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzmCaGYN84zCt8dBLlqIlSWKO7X6JzE014KRegfhO9Dx3hv5OXBRqKx15x1YGftNSALyYxUNNb4We3l0d7k0YVDnHqFu7wA016YyJnd0c264MPLd4tvcqioE0fXjOeaAlpLCDiJj6rO8/s1600/13842567_i2xTsEg3_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzmCaGYN84zCt8dBLlqIlSWKO7X6JzE014KRegfhO9Dx3hv5OXBRqKx15x1YGftNSALyYxUNNb4We3l0d7k0YVDnHqFu7wA016YyJnd0c264MPLd4tvcqioE0fXjOeaAlpLCDiJj6rO8/s400/13842567_i2xTsEg3_c.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/13842567/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I can't wait to read what you have been up to</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">in Blogland this month</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 22px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"> -Bloggers, just link up your best post of the month -</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">And see, you've already done the work</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">- Share the love by visiting a few other blogs -</span></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">- Would you like to add my button to your lovely sidebar so more can join the fun? -</span></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Yep, we'll do this the last day of each month</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">- Don't forget to become a follower too -</span></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Happy May Blogging :)</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=86518" type="text/javascript"></script>

Post Of The Month Club: April

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Coming off a royal high, yesterday was completely over-the-top wonderful We watched the magnificent wedding wi...

12:22 AM

NO MORE BORING WALLS

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">NO MORE BORING BLANK WALLS</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />It stares at you every time you enter the room.  That blank stare.  Cold, unfeeling.  It says, well, what do you expect?  I'm blank and boring.  Fix me.  Make me interesting.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />We all have a wall that needs something fabulous!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZCHc3BA-ArcTDW0qH1K2aDQv_4ceuI-1-xvsCPhNk71_hvcp7thUSRu_Htc8rnm_ClSUwYzh2dZajwqUZc6my8s0yLD1-F0QyKDL7xGIfpOUKeTOkUsdPgxKOEiK2qcRr7QWMoou89k/s1600/%2521cid_2_3407683028%2540web125809_mail_ne1_yahoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZCHc3BA-ArcTDW0qH1K2aDQv_4ceuI-1-xvsCPhNk71_hvcp7thUSRu_Htc8rnm_ClSUwYzh2dZajwqUZc6my8s0yLD1-F0QyKDL7xGIfpOUKeTOkUsdPgxKOEiK2qcRr7QWMoou89k/s640/%2521cid_2_3407683028%2540web125809_mail_ne1_yahoo.jpg" width="640px"></a></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />Speaking of fabulous, I just discovered photographer Clark Little</div><br /></div><a href="http://yournestdesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/no-boring-walls-it-stares-at-you-every.html#more">Read more »</a>

NO MORE BORING WALLS

NO MORE BORING BLANK WALLS It stares at you every time you enter the room. That blank stare. Cold, unfeeling. It says, well, what do you ...

11:49 PM

The Royal Wedding From My Throne: Part 3

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday in London? UNFORGETTABLE!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Like a child's first time to Disney World</div><div style="text-align: center;">Excuse me if I talk too fast :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a thrill to walk around the day before the Royal Wedding</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nothing short of fantastic</div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFJNZ2PLC0DPbaC1WPdKAi__r3bj4zfP9nQXJmdoVe9erWXpNjbukXRx0qqsehqNprLjHKAvN_J22hZLKPtxqB-yTQSgxYSPnoG-IeKufd5kQSbVOa7drZkyY2qmAexi4NK-P4qR9PnE/s1600/DSC_0061-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFJNZ2PLC0DPbaC1WPdKAi__r3bj4zfP9nQXJmdoVe9erWXpNjbukXRx0qqsehqNprLjHKAvN_J22hZLKPtxqB-yTQSgxYSPnoG-IeKufd5kQSbVOa7drZkyY2qmAexi4NK-P4qR9PnE/s640/DSC_0061-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the crowd on the bridge<br />Love the flying flags</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I first arrived (kids in tow) at Westminster Abbey around 3:45p. It was packed with people</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxaVzlsfSvioUa0YfGcaPwH0ewXM2Za2W2WK5yhI1V-XPh2g-57VMeMeSENDTo4GSFh4aBXZULDD4lQSxpdCIW_khlHCvEIDTTHrrpt2d69kxYALqgVFD4I1NPi6zmc6gWAzMZCm1T4k/s1600/DSC_0072-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxaVzlsfSvioUa0YfGcaPwH0ewXM2Za2W2WK5yhI1V-XPh2g-57VMeMeSENDTo4GSFh4aBXZULDD4lQSxpdCIW_khlHCvEIDTTHrrpt2d69kxYALqgVFD4I1NPi6zmc6gWAzMZCm1T4k/s640/DSC_0072-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMquUuxVSU6Hu-BCzrkbyAgM-Co1RhuHowYa2vRtUsUkFYTXRiJDBi09EzcbLTyJix5mLg-V20TuPmuRiAmLN2iNuye93lBZURBwNMffGRMkJnV4vcPPrUhJLcwkQQ9R7LU2uYItbnJE/s1600/DSC_0092-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMquUuxVSU6Hu-BCzrkbyAgM-Co1RhuHowYa2vRtUsUkFYTXRiJDBi09EzcbLTyJix5mLg-V20TuPmuRiAmLN2iNuye93lBZURBwNMffGRMkJnV4vcPPrUhJLcwkQQ9R7LU2uYItbnJE/s640/DSC_0092-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">International media set up everywhere</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkyoTFOBoC13GY4S08fH-HDbxY3hCMp-4eKMzIWqZDDpauH8Vwmw0Qxo8_uKghyphenhyphen-suQAS_77O8biRaDlkwgSL2DYBpDEWRR555s_nxVJlQUKEAtEasSuRhG9nE7uQdzUY2LNoHQrXfGE/s1600/DSC_0127-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkyoTFOBoC13GY4S08fH-HDbxY3hCMp-4eKMzIWqZDDpauH8Vwmw0Qxo8_uKghyphenhyphen-suQAS_77O8biRaDlkwgSL2DYBpDEWRR555s_nxVJlQUKEAtEasSuRhG9nE7uQdzUY2LNoHQrXfGE/s640/DSC_0127-3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhfFJrZ-JnI39MGJHDbXEuM3W1RA2FW8MxGYFNy4f-YZy06zRcBe-6PgieKisOtj6keeTQvL5sIUVHlkyaNxMb5b1TXKN7tnUZeuQy3pxJ1qJ6TXTSmHqhq_juJiw9aLEGoKKZJuhw1M/s1600/DSC_0087-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhfFJrZ-JnI39MGJHDbXEuM3W1RA2FW8MxGYFNy4f-YZy06zRcBe-6PgieKisOtj6keeTQvL5sIUVHlkyaNxMb5b1TXKN7tnUZeuQy3pxJ1qJ6TXTSmHqhq_juJiw9aLEGoKKZJuhw1M/s640/DSC_0087-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impressive media grandstand-thingy across from Westminster Abbey</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rvVE7eUlsp_bI1XHduiIsMEXCil9OlnESOSvhSy7IGsOIw8BRCne5n-omdvnQWRjVhrvKOguhDBqvb4mkKePDFt1wl5Jj3dybqMH-8quSfPSEbIVh2krlMriG4Ux618q064Qf1sIkyw/s1600/DSC_0097-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rvVE7eUlsp_bI1XHduiIsMEXCil9OlnESOSvhSy7IGsOIw8BRCne5n-omdvnQWRjVhrvKOguhDBqvb4mkKePDFt1wl5Jj3dybqMH-8quSfPSEbIVh2krlMriG4Ux618q064Qf1sIkyw/s640/DSC_0097-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxltY9D9-aLS8-iKcsdtfBbgT2ums96H4wAtMLQPqWsNcV6d21jt7x5jRlIYfnwxohZxv_fQD6VKhcZ5In5Xd8rvILCjy8W9fQLM2UszygniL3xP5Iovnzd2-SOIdWVA-IQ4xlmqDhdA/s1600/DSC_0079-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxltY9D9-aLS8-iKcsdtfBbgT2ums96H4wAtMLQPqWsNcV6d21jt7x5jRlIYfnwxohZxv_fQD6VKhcZ5In5Xd8rvILCjy8W9fQLM2UszygniL3xP5Iovnzd2-SOIdWVA-IQ4xlmqDhdA/s640/DSC_0079-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry, No Tours Of The Abbey Today, Madam :)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbvDloISq0IeUIOij4DU9wgHuBLauF74ppncsCT-cLrvT6_M6jyvrqfVy_ffr2Tu8joDYzNWT1SC9n4RwbD7VLDyP0TUeRtwf2izqZiq6zVtY_3boDNl3zsvOdJn6f5EQm0_atxuoYic/s1600/DSC_0096-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbvDloISq0IeUIOij4DU9wgHuBLauF74ppncsCT-cLrvT6_M6jyvrqfVy_ffr2Tu8joDYzNWT1SC9n4RwbD7VLDyP0TUeRtwf2izqZiq6zVtY_3boDNl3zsvOdJn6f5EQm0_atxuoYic/s640/DSC_0096-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camera Boom Set Up For Tomorrow</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sVqa87mgICkIKgk1AQlHL6gbM6gXVe0wiNJbfBCTjgMbdhBBQDGvYARwAsCGxX_dP8083m3AfteG1gh5lCHvJ4a5bk7xJRlEPaW2UtCKRwdo6Wii36ljLSzNcFb2khLIZPRHsJccQsc/s1600/DSC_0088-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sVqa87mgICkIKgk1AQlHL6gbM6gXVe0wiNJbfBCTjgMbdhBBQDGvYARwAsCGxX_dP8083m3AfteG1gh5lCHvJ4a5bk7xJRlEPaW2UtCKRwdo6Wii36ljLSzNcFb2khLIZPRHsJccQsc/s640/DSC_0088-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping Out<br />See the tents?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I was so busy taking photos and keeping track of the kiddos, look who snuck up behind me</div><div style="text-align: center;">Super-famous American news anchor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Couric">Katie Couric</a>!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bT_ynF-SYyZa1Gq3uiiysckjyHWXESKtZO6-7F1vcfWKh_PeOXpaoeRRgs13R5WkL-cywREjXFm_ySYHYQC0J2xEGSmM2RtCAxYfm31TmXrXGlKUV7ILuFbJmJcp2zDZA7BrVIQbuTE/s1600/DSC_0075-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bT_ynF-SYyZa1Gq3uiiysckjyHWXESKtZO6-7F1vcfWKh_PeOXpaoeRRgs13R5WkL-cywREjXFm_ySYHYQC0J2xEGSmM2RtCAxYfm31TmXrXGlKUV7ILuFbJmJcp2zDZA7BrVIQbuTE/s320/DSC_0075-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Right after I took this photo, she looked right at me and gave me a HUGE cutie-pie smile </div><div style="text-align: center;">(darn, that's the photo I should have taken)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I said, 'Sorry, I just couldn't help myself!' (taking a photo of you like a total dork)</div><div style="text-align: center;">And she said in the nicest way, 'Oh, that's okay' (I see dorks all the time)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now I am her newest fan</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFceK0RKCxrmPrsZjE9mEdappGjGRR-WiZsiS3-7_FE63j1xATouI974ElX4Zvhbb8hR0v8DIjAVcfSseyJmgSDFB_KsAGEeDMlnD6wN2QARjyxuwcZj-Qc4AcviJmnP96BssbBh8V5oI/s1600/DSC_0105-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFceK0RKCxrmPrsZjE9mEdappGjGRR-WiZsiS3-7_FE63j1xATouI974ElX4Zvhbb8hR0v8DIjAVcfSseyJmgSDFB_KsAGEeDMlnD6wN2QARjyxuwcZj-Qc4AcviJmnP96BssbBh8V5oI/s640/DSC_0105-3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a photo of my new BFF working</div><div style="text-align: center;">Katie was super sparkly and adorable in person and seemed to be in a great mood, </div><div style="text-align: center;">taking photos with everyone who asked and just smiling the whole time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Playing it 'cool' and trying to contain the jumping monkeys in my tummy, I whispered to the kids</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>'Oh my gosh, guys. I know you have no idea who that was, but she is crazy famous'</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Their reply? '<i>Why are you talking in that squeaky voice, mom?</i>' </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So I get a little star struck. The moment was totally lost on the little ones :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We moved along and the crowds were gone</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaVuJFRJke9heHBrJxleaIlxXeWdPsIcy9rvIfeaRRQDH_-fW3zdxhq_-6yvJZajsslSFhG5peeo2Ex2b-16ueEr5vPpSrhfnxwIMUDEtoamh0boO4ePk6xYbEaj80iN_E9vy2oZE6iM/s1600/DSC_0136-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaVuJFRJke9heHBrJxleaIlxXeWdPsIcy9rvIfeaRRQDH_-fW3zdxhq_-6yvJZajsslSFhG5peeo2Ex2b-16ueEr5vPpSrhfnxwIMUDEtoamh0boO4ePk6xYbEaj80iN_E9vy2oZE6iM/s640/DSC_0136-3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check Points Set Up For Tomorrow</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This reporter was cracking us up. He would start to talk in the microphone, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">then white flower petals would drop onto his hair. Brushing them off, he'd have to start all over</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpW0G-CPelqNT9iDeGqVmNiv4inZPmx5zEE_roNFOhzFrZaw547fUJSoafLSzoOJAon6U_PL4L8vBXc740_0TPqtlqixIerUBL9u4nDPdgEb_qckJbrv2gMs_ufoBytRz7WY1IdQ00mQE/s1600/DSCN4332-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpW0G-CPelqNT9iDeGqVmNiv4inZPmx5zEE_roNFOhzFrZaw547fUJSoafLSzoOJAon6U_PL4L8vBXc740_0TPqtlqixIerUBL9u4nDPdgEb_qckJbrv2gMs_ufoBytRz7WY1IdQ00mQE/s640/DSCN4332-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNIrl5XOzMbXzKTkqJukJPQIyfcT36V2rnV7KzH9hNgLh2JvQSET-XYzkQxXbrK65OcQBwYFJ2AVEG0otrjdd808a2YnVtx6eti3xNseUub3Tck0WsF9AvtQpKfXiC0rrFaQMTw8BcVQ/s1600/DSCN4344-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNIrl5XOzMbXzKTkqJukJPQIyfcT36V2rnV7KzH9hNgLh2JvQSET-XYzkQxXbrK65OcQBwYFJ2AVEG0otrjdd808a2YnVtx6eti3xNseUub3Tck0WsF9AvtQpKfXiC0rrFaQMTw8BcVQ/s400/DSCN4344-2.JPG" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Video screen at Trafalgar Square for public viewing tomorrow</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were about 6 different police escorts that passed us while we roamed around</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought I saw Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in one of those cars</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who knows? But I'm sticking with it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe61dlFkjwQ0o6TF6HdTrwzQZ5tK0yedCDr7qOjR_psiBRjlFVE_dPsZdEN3vz8utViRW1rihf7QDyFhT6SgAXE4bCxXSPn6ZUNjUPAGFb6L63JvUzX7FnL2l8yjVzcd0CoDJnBJp3PAc/s1600/DSCN4347-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe61dlFkjwQ0o6TF6HdTrwzQZ5tK0yedCDr7qOjR_psiBRjlFVE_dPsZdEN3vz8utViRW1rihf7QDyFhT6SgAXE4bCxXSPn6ZUNjUPAGFb6L63JvUzX7FnL2l8yjVzcd0CoDJnBJp3PAc/s640/DSCN4347-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trafalgar Square & The National Gallery</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There was definitely a police presence everywhere, but they all seemed in good spirits</div><div style="text-align: center;">At first I thought he was waving at me to stop taking photos,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but he actually was just waving for the picture</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoxJmcfhQjY8ynlv48Rl2BoO7xVVmgjBBY6e67yQHoDaiDj7hms9bSBcY_RdP0fzVQK9qJwh94D6P6NVZlEZmL8eWI-flewMEd9tZ8VIuKQIO2p4-sFVJpjq7WnCxSQr1bYoRkyRnXKw/s1600/DSC_0137-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoxJmcfhQjY8ynlv48Rl2BoO7xVVmgjBBY6e67yQHoDaiDj7hms9bSBcY_RdP0fzVQK9qJwh94D6P6NVZlEZmL8eWI-flewMEd9tZ8VIuKQIO2p4-sFVJpjq7WnCxSQr1bYoRkyRnXKw/s640/DSC_0137-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello friendly policeman</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We arrived at Buckingham Palace by 5p</div><div style="text-align: center;">The crowd was thin, unlike the Abbey</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CyKyQxD2w8PdsHLi7AnGQtZFVUlca98hETp8JoFIIxs879LjOb8t-xIrYbG6VWFFuaEfRVbVeyjmmM1aBoEsBYD4IOH4CZdNtdDqSdUzT4YBybRlFgdNQ5V5ajaxTon0sTm8YTC3YnM/s1600/DSC_0191-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CyKyQxD2w8PdsHLi7AnGQtZFVUlca98hETp8JoFIIxs879LjOb8t-xIrYbG6VWFFuaEfRVbVeyjmmM1aBoEsBYD4IOH4CZdNtdDqSdUzT4YBybRlFgdNQ5V5ajaxTon0sTm8YTC3YnM/s640/DSC_0191-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the cleverly camoflagued television camera 'hides' around the statues?<br />You almost missed those, didn't you?</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYY-G_GX3bQFtMUTRhnqMHk-XnmC8gyB_D4rpGA3ETpv0r5jwo-L_dnVlAvt2xt-u3IvQJfms-v9b1Zm1XgGqZIBWio1kRoYV22lXcYGdkTDaU3f4Zq2SQpt8hTE6d-tlF6vQyClBHvyA/s1600/DSC_0183-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYY-G_GX3bQFtMUTRhnqMHk-XnmC8gyB_D4rpGA3ETpv0r5jwo-L_dnVlAvt2xt-u3IvQJfms-v9b1Zm1XgGqZIBWio1kRoYV22lXcYGdkTDaU3f4Zq2SQpt8hTE6d-tlF6vQyClBHvyA/s640/DSC_0183-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another media bandstandy-thingy across from Buckingham Palace</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvg2y5BBcp9LQmu5St80qSYic712AKnXLnqvWJCiknsTVDY0UXPw6lOhyphenhyphen_Bw7GC3n-3zKyaV9g5ROGD2xza7eKcocQ_4BQPXVhv8zfItiWVfsvuK2MUGMwiXIS05P9z-XzTAiI75y-7Q/s1600/DSC_0181-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvg2y5BBcp9LQmu5St80qSYic712AKnXLnqvWJCiknsTVDY0UXPw6lOhyphenhyphen_Bw7GC3n-3zKyaV9g5ROGD2xza7eKcocQ_4BQPXVhv8zfItiWVfsvuK2MUGMwiXIS05P9z-XzTAiI75y-7Q/s640/DSC_0181-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been trying to figure out what gets me so pumped about the Royal Wedding day, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and I think I finally put my finger on it<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsq95WKCV5L4iifQZyfcYW9n67bUOZ_OX03UITLxOanlUmf9F3_zFYbcoufjjIC2SxTHTwapzrKTqOkvHj_lfPClooty2V_vuSbkqEJtzBUJXBng1g6yurE1QZCK6zATJN_t3KOeBUvM/s1600/DSC_0194-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsq95WKCV5L4iifQZyfcYW9n67bUOZ_OX03UITLxOanlUmf9F3_zFYbcoufjjIC2SxTHTwapzrKTqOkvHj_lfPClooty2V_vuSbkqEJtzBUJXBng1g6yurE1QZCK6zATJN_t3KOeBUvM/s400/DSC_0194-1.JPG" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing Will & Kate Masks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the US, our patriotic day is definitely The 4th Of July</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a national holiday when many wear the national colors, fly the American flag, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and have a day with friends, family or neighbors. There are fireworks and parades</div><div style="text-align: center;">Each year it is a celebration of being American and having our freedoms</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjDi5YP_LxDPBvgBGhu0SlWh-Hawl80kw4gldRT6kPe7XyytmbNHLy8NfPpgVJMuqtvXy08DI96bOsIize5vUFlUnATFW0uJO7d5SSCD8lZM2sGVVY4RS8zlIOOQLmoSd8ArcihN02ys/s1600/DSC_0093-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjDi5YP_LxDPBvgBGhu0SlWh-Hawl80kw4gldRT6kPe7XyytmbNHLy8NfPpgVJMuqtvXy08DI96bOsIize5vUFlUnATFW0uJO7d5SSCD8lZM2sGVVY4RS8zlIOOQLmoSd8ArcihN02ys/s640/DSC_0093-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />England doesn't really have an annual national, patriotic day<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One reason could be the English personality. You would find the typical English person modest</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perhaps only 'boastful about not being boastful'</div><div style="text-align: center;">Few would say, 'I'm English and proud of it!' for fear it might offend</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And England is intertwined with many identities- </div><div style="text-align: center;">Great Britain, the United Kingdom, and even the European Union with its fluid borders </div><div style="text-align: center;">I think the sun still doesn't set on the British Commonwealth, but few will tell you that here</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwy8SHBqxJx01zzp0s5uO3Vhrr-xtuvDCoa_dcE1oSzMd8n5tTUEJIj_-y9Mbx-dYaK6DTKsGdv8-6GyZ1bWWatNKSGBNUpMDA6aLVkWflBo7lWz_myF_U6l5ucfn3ZUEiNzIUxrYiLnU/s1600/DSC_0197-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwy8SHBqxJx01zzp0s5uO3Vhrr-xtuvDCoa_dcE1oSzMd8n5tTUEJIj_-y9Mbx-dYaK6DTKsGdv8-6GyZ1bWWatNKSGBNUpMDA6aLVkWflBo7lWz_myF_U6l5ucfn3ZUEiNzIUxrYiLnU/s640/DSC_0197-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Although the Royal Wedding is not a celebration of England, </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">it has brought the country together with one million people joining in street parties</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And to me, that feels patriotic</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I am twirling with excitement that I am here to celebrate this historic day with them</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaSNpbFsdDIsUbg61OmRG7wNQCUDnKKLzXxPn59bN24RWB65jQ8DGYvmhf_s2HSs32Kg6mcO3n4bg6uAMo-9Bgu_wDuhbsQhyphenhyphenoP15tqWWfYqMv5ESM7eCx9WWteCFTxq1XxMTZPc1F2Y/s1600/DSCN4322-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaSNpbFsdDIsUbg61OmRG7wNQCUDnKKLzXxPn59bN24RWB65jQ8DGYvmhf_s2HSs32Kg6mcO3n4bg6uAMo-9Bgu_wDuhbsQhyphenhyphenoP15tqWWfYqMv5ESM7eCx9WWteCFTxq1XxMTZPc1F2Y/s640/DSCN4322-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Azaleas in St James's Park behind media grandstand</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for joining me for the ride this Royal Week<br /><br />I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!!<br /><br />Wishing Will & Kate the very best<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Royal Wedding Part I - Insider Scoop (<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/04/royal-wedding-from-my-throne-part-i.html">here</a>)</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Royal Wedding Part II - Celebrating The Wedding (<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/04/royal-wedding-from-my-throne-part-2.html">here</a>)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">This Weekend :: 'Post Of The Month Club' Linky Party for bloggers (details <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/03/post-of-month-club-linky-party.html">here</a>)</div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

The Royal Wedding From My Throne: Part 3

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Yesterday in London? UNFORGETTABLE! Like a child's first time to Disney World Excuse me if I talk too fast ...

1:09 AM

A Living Room Redo

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><strong>BONNIE AND ROB'S NEW LIVING ROOM</strong><br><br /><strong>(AND DINING ROOM)</strong></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTD9PagIi8OsEWaCcpEaNc9-PN_QuqR8zNtp9MYgto600jBi-aw7q8uVQ0AKSofKZbZkAprxY3e6F0rZPK4WRduvezrb8AnrHhuCgSOhWZ0yrwPQ9649s96ejQrAqahDX3VbSQ93Vs5C8/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTD9PagIi8OsEWaCcpEaNc9-PN_QuqR8zNtp9MYgto600jBi-aw7q8uVQ0AKSofKZbZkAprxY3e6F0rZPK4WRduvezrb8AnrHhuCgSOhWZ0yrwPQ9649s96ejQrAqahDX3VbSQ93Vs5C8/s640/IMG_3227.JPG" width="432px"></a></div><br />I love making a client's vision come true.  In the end, that is (or should be) the goal of any interior <br><br /></div><a href="http://yournestdesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/living-room-redo.html#more">Read more »</a>

A Living Room Redo

BONNIE AND ROB'S NEW LIVING ROOM (AND DINING ROOM) I love making a client's vision come true. In the end, that is (or should be) th...

3:16 PM

The Royal Wedding From My Throne: Part 2

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">As a follow up to <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/04/royal-wedding-from-my-throne-part-i.html">Part I</a>, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I thought you might be interested in a few ways </div><div style="text-align: center;">the Royal Wedding will be celebrated around England</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhdRIbGNmhuCNbW-EcIz5f1WC3tS-ys4qaOcOIF5DnotKbAZfZ3pPz6NMtqxag33P9MYfBCJLVNzHI2bX-05KfaHlPXRVhlDKXLHNOkcGDaMTT3j_9wX_VYaaTmM20GIapgvHIzcDRtA/s1600/4682969_WI3tAmnT_c-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhdRIbGNmhuCNbW-EcIz5f1WC3tS-ys4qaOcOIF5DnotKbAZfZ3pPz6NMtqxag33P9MYfBCJLVNzHI2bX-05KfaHlPXRVhlDKXLHNOkcGDaMTT3j_9wX_VYaaTmM20GIapgvHIzcDRtA/s640/4682969_WI3tAmnT_c-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/4682969/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">TEA PARTIES</div><br />In the morning, we will go to a tea party at an expat friend's house. Our daughters will be all dressed up for the occasion. While the girls play, it will probably be the moms who watch it on the television. The wedding starts at 11 am. Totally 'my cup of tea'!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">STREET PARTIES</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'Street parties' have a long history in the UK, mainly England and Wales.  These neighborly gatherings may have started as early as 1919 after the end of World War I to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. They were called 'Peace Teas' and were formal sit-down occasions at tables in the street. Tea and cake were served with what little ingredients they had.   </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ever since, neighbors have come together on their traffic-free road to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">commemorate momentous events</span></span>, including the coronations of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, VE Day in 1945, and the Millennium.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdiUstCWZ5fuQYOTV_vLhw9939sAPDauTnzWF2rM7ufJK9ppXTm1RKYqAvNfAi5fubYl7775ETA2cG-aFRVIxHID-G6KbWOlUbjFbK3I77l-V9pw74xuwTCeM7T5pTlRPIP-hKMTFUwU/s1600/coronation_party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdiUstCWZ5fuQYOTV_vLhw9939sAPDauTnzWF2rM7ufJK9ppXTm1RKYqAvNfAi5fubYl7775ETA2cG-aFRVIxHID-G6KbWOlUbjFbK3I77l-V9pw74xuwTCeM7T5pTlRPIP-hKMTFUwU/s640/coronation_party.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1953 Coronation Street Party<br />[<a href="http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__8842_path__0p214p220p1195p158p.aspx">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to StreetParty.org.uk, on Friday and over the weekend '<b>one million people will enjoy street parties,</b><b> </b>...which is the largest number of people to have one since the last royal wedding in 1981. This is the biggest neighbour's day for 30 years, which is a great boost for street sociability and neighbourliness.'<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">One even will be held by Prime Minister David Cameron on Downing Street</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTud37rdk42JYc5eYnvCfu8Opzr-gGorctkst79Ix7AbE7iK8cFOW1MZPbrR_KhsxX9AvmQ3bcazvUOwwMrfl5TgOE8OQN286o6o6X44S2ND9Lf22Cuj0geiQVTSePdjAQJV6Iu132NA/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTud37rdk42JYc5eYnvCfu8Opzr-gGorctkst79Ix7AbE7iK8cFOW1MZPbrR_KhsxX9AvmQ3bcazvUOwwMrfl5TgOE8OQN286o6o6X44S2ND9Lf22Cuj0geiQVTSePdjAQJV6Iu132NA/s640/16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://www.streetparty.org.uk/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I will be attending a street party in my neighborhood. Yea! Here are some of the fun planned activities (weather permitting):</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Table Tennis</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Penalty Goal Shoot Out (football/soccer)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Egg and Spoon Races, Tug of War</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Craft Table, Sidewalk Chalk, Temporary Tattoos, Bubbles</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Best Wedding Dress Made Of Newspaper Contest</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Best Homemade Cake Competition</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Grills For Food; Bring Your Own Drinks</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Interestingly, bunting is a traditional part of street parties. No one has a street party without one :) Who knew?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">PUB PARTIES</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If we aren't exhausted by the end of the day, we may pull up a chair at the local pub. Most pubs are kid friendly, often offering yummy food, outside seating and sometimes even a playground. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sign from a local pub</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYfpuYyDVPcv6w-kfWVU4o_1gZ66FYF_uGfiPeVD76fbaNetCQ5FbVTcLupytlE2SFstzWJ5OvDVlduxloQxF_zuKj7xNsNHcAxhbLdl8kRBaMVX1ygl8JU5p2GYxyPFz34W2q9-7wHg/s1600/DSCN3827-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYfpuYyDVPcv6w-kfWVU4o_1gZ66FYF_uGfiPeVD76fbaNetCQ5FbVTcLupytlE2SFstzWJ5OvDVlduxloQxF_zuKj7xNsNHcAxhbLdl8kRBaMVX1ygl8JU5p2GYxyPFz34W2q9-7wHg/s640/DSCN3827-1.JPG" width="594" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'A Knees Up' is Cockney for 'a party'<br />[personal photo]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gotta run - cakes to make, and newspaper wedding dresses to design :) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have any plans for the big day?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The Royal Wedding Part 1 - Insider Scoop (<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/04/royal-wedding-from-my-throne-part-i.html">here</a>)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Royal Wedding Part 3 - London, The Day Before The Wedding (<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/04/royal-wedding-from-my-throne-part-3.html">here</a>)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Sources: <a href="http://www.streetparty.org.uk/history.aspx">StreetParty</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_party">Wikipedia</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

The Royal Wedding From My Throne: Part 2

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK As a follow up to Part I , I thought you might be interested in a few ways the Royal Wedding will be celebrat...

11:03 PM

A little something I've been working on...

Morning all,<br />Hope you all had a lovely Easter break. It was so nice to kick back, relax and enjoy the extended long weekend, and generally take it easy. I took the chance to work on my renovation/building plans, so the first port of call was my chock-a-block full inspiration folder. I actually have quite a few - some where I keep all my tear sheets, and my computer files, where I stash everything and anything that takes my fancy. I spent some time revisiting my favourites, and came across these pics of Collette Dinnigan's two gorgeous Paddington homes. I've posted about these before, but they're so lovely I couldn't resist going back for another helping.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2937m5FYiuLIo3dJvACzt6M1xwWxfXM-DrQ4Q5NffbxrzjH_AeYwA6WbEN4R21TNGataq08I1HGJrCwzfCp5aocZOuMTvCyLqvq7aImae-_PPLL6W80Pw99xmxOffbQ9lgAd4ftrx6U/s1600/collette+dinnigan+zona_living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2937m5FYiuLIo3dJvACzt6M1xwWxfXM-DrQ4Q5NffbxrzjH_AeYwA6WbEN4R21TNGataq08I1HGJrCwzfCp5aocZOuMTvCyLqvq7aImae-_PPLL6W80Pw99xmxOffbQ9lgAd4ftrx6U/s640/collette+dinnigan+zona_living.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">simple, clean and just plain gorgeous</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLQkpqCBpf1RAtL76FAaSzQwoP9Sd30BlEel0bMEVY9PuUuCbmgAW6K2lc6XS1MxNB0EvMBKTd_TqJtied8wRUZzca8IWrZMJUL8b8RKhHwuktqTe_cilEAji4uNKJnC9sHeNmJrW8B0/s1600/collette+dinnigan+75+paddington+st+paddo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLQkpqCBpf1RAtL76FAaSzQwoP9Sd30BlEel0bMEVY9PuUuCbmgAW6K2lc6XS1MxNB0EvMBKTd_TqJtied8wRUZzca8IWrZMJUL8b8RKhHwuktqTe_cilEAji4uNKJnC9sHeNmJrW8B0/s640/collette+dinnigan+75+paddington+st+paddo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">love love</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0KeDTK3VXxmpsP6J7y1DksEg1ZtTN4vb9A3PcIktGaTOOkEHJvcr9JHzWmz2FVguO9iH0o2V4r7cLXOPhmgKRwawgLmkPCzrd4ApS2iMkkxNJHHVXi7uWuAM_EU6v8QhOGoNqG7r9PY/s1600/collette+dinnigan+il_bagno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0KeDTK3VXxmpsP6J7y1DksEg1ZtTN4vb9A3PcIktGaTOOkEHJvcr9JHzWmz2FVguO9iH0o2V4r7cLXOPhmgKRwawgLmkPCzrd4ApS2iMkkxNJHHVXi7uWuAM_EU6v8QhOGoNqG7r9PY/s640/collette+dinnigan+il_bagno.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQy2gWTDuX-2oUgAZTqc6Xqf61ic2mDbIkLoml9l_vxGLpLnfnVazxXpOmYhVU9F-QwtZqVTBTZ-QT0nJB6W1Eo8d_qvqwOzwxtCn5z4uoT5FHoc2l2oskGwKAjrr60U-qfPYVZ2MrSk/s1600/collette+dinnigan+la_piscina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQy2gWTDuX-2oUgAZTqc6Xqf61ic2mDbIkLoml9l_vxGLpLnfnVazxXpOmYhVU9F-QwtZqVTBTZ-QT0nJB6W1Eo8d_qvqwOzwxtCn5z4uoT5FHoc2l2oskGwKAjrr60U-qfPYVZ2MrSk/s640/collette+dinnigan+la_piscina.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVkJo95GtTaZEsXCAbGveDyXP6SJjRZ9IMA54Q91Ok9Kz1eSL-qJiSwoOr2fgj75o2FHFjc6boqHoqB-lsJHYDEM1bh2XJHj3GGIaEc1HzV-DeUC6hLRiB_GosILnbrEdMpL1I3jYFkI/s1600/collette+dinnigan+nella_camera_da_letto_padronale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVkJo95GtTaZEsXCAbGveDyXP6SJjRZ9IMA54Q91Ok9Kz1eSL-qJiSwoOr2fgj75o2FHFjc6boqHoqB-lsJHYDEM1bh2XJHj3GGIaEc1HzV-DeUC6hLRiB_GosILnbrEdMpL1I3jYFkI/s640/collette+dinnigan+nella_camera_da_letto_padronale.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj787dCyXc_2PKzLcmcffi6p0HTdenauNwonJaokOLw2SQR2H6RuJWB7q4Dl3X4nQzzOgCitJSBRpVxZUR3hms8BIs3D-6l6Tqy_qsz31iKbfAUiXgo-fkOfFkmo0W-IaOVBJRgV6Wu4/s1600/collette+dinnigan+zona_relax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj787dCyXc_2PKzLcmcffi6p0HTdenauNwonJaokOLw2SQR2H6RuJWB7q4Dl3X4nQzzOgCitJSBRpVxZUR3hms8BIs3D-6l6Tqy_qsz31iKbfAUiXgo-fkOfFkmo0W-IaOVBJRgV6Wu4/s640/collette+dinnigan+zona_relax.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2f7nRXuMtL7v3-z-DZlvC55vbtZ6mVMEXU2XbCwH3PF7hkwc8AatvI-BARubKxQB64vbtfXaiunM0BkatMqUJwuuYiWlMA1scySHe-kb4Y71LfYxNppR0fwCYNCyhghEa7_7t98VSXM/s1600/collette+dinnigan+75+paddington+st+paddington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2f7nRXuMtL7v3-z-DZlvC55vbtZ6mVMEXU2XbCwH3PF7hkwc8AatvI-BARubKxQB64vbtfXaiunM0BkatMqUJwuuYiWlMA1scySHe-kb4Y71LfYxNppR0fwCYNCyhghEa7_7t98VSXM/s640/collette+dinnigan+75+paddington+st+paddington.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">all images via domain.com.au</span></div><br />Now, my home is no heritage sandstone cottage, and somehow I'm guessing my budget is somewhat more limited than Collette's, but there's plenty here that could work in any home. A restrained palette, clean lines, but a relaxed, comfortable feel at the same time. Very nice indeed, and inspiration galore, in more ways than one. More on that later!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

A little something I've been working on...

Morning all, Hope you all had a lovely Easter break. It was so nice to kick back, relax and enjoy the extended long weekend, and generally t...

4:52 PM

The Royal Wedding From My Throne: Part 1

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know if you've heard, but there is a little wedding coming up on Friday around here :)<br /><br />What else can I add? I think the worldwide media has covered it thoroughly<br /><br />So here is my American point of view in England<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8L6klhTmF8I8hF36w9NKlPBCvHlmT6khEvd7SHgE-yTfHATPI-8mgOcAEr7tuy7rULSEqNChyphenhyphenr3J1j0d3E37z21EjVGk3tw1j0W37xq155izhHpYj1yiuxyf_q-GGWhqi9BOjRCcoHI/s1600/14079474_MpM8JNf5_c+%25281%2529-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8L6klhTmF8I8hF36w9NKlPBCvHlmT6khEvd7SHgE-yTfHATPI-8mgOcAEr7tuy7rULSEqNChyphenhyphenr3J1j0d3E37z21EjVGk3tw1j0W37xq155izhHpYj1yiuxyf_q-GGWhqi9BOjRCcoHI/s400/14079474_MpM8JNf5_c+%25281%2529-2.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/14079474/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most Brits seem to have a soft spot for William and his brother Harry. The love for his mom, Diana, has been transferred onto her two sons.  Will seems to be a cool, down-to-earth guy with an honorable job (RAF Search & Rescue helicopter pilot in Wales).  He'd be invited to my house for supper anytime.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMQpklRGq-_bvpeM4AiFarcwoNc1Oy1jKH4hA3lIS6h-Jm9cPW-xy_4IyHO7XYNVV2ffhsmuF5bLRtUetzlWaXVNVI1i0GPa_yOgwPcHdzP7ruuAZUjBuslGXJ8uEl1YqgleYz3wzKRA/s1600/11353217_2HOFG5NE_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMQpklRGq-_bvpeM4AiFarcwoNc1Oy1jKH4hA3lIS6h-Jm9cPW-xy_4IyHO7XYNVV2ffhsmuF5bLRtUetzlWaXVNVI1i0GPa_yOgwPcHdzP7ruuAZUjBuslGXJ8uEl1YqgleYz3wzKRA/s320/11353217_2HOFG5NE_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/11353217/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And how adorable is Catherine?! Liked by the public, this beautiful 'commoner' from mining roots has a great sense of style and is well educated. Coming from a stable family makes her popular with the Queen. I'm guessing you've probably seen a few photos of Kate recently. This is one of my favs. And let's face it, she has great hair.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJOSk820TlQrx88yBWdlORA1v0ArLsAvDPTXr3uXaA6lrkJnurbUi0_PaEjuKrxqDTrgzPM8YDgBcyEM3488yqodsHQhhjtP6I0CsKtrkwxw7qu47P-2_o4zRtarpM3HnaigN89mS1_c/s1600/12594970_f1Euu5Zc_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJOSk820TlQrx88yBWdlORA1v0ArLsAvDPTXr3uXaA6lrkJnurbUi0_PaEjuKrxqDTrgzPM8YDgBcyEM3488yqodsHQhhjtP6I0CsKtrkwxw7qu47P-2_o4zRtarpM3HnaigN89mS1_c/s400/12594970_f1Euu5Zc_c.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/12594970/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The fairy tale story is irresistible. They are possibly the first royal couple destined for the throne in the UK to marry for love. William and Kate are a modern couple too, having met in university and lived together for 9 years. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for the Queen, reportedly she is happy there is a fresh boost to the monarchy's popularity and looks forward to a stable future of the crown.<br /><br />The people seem to have mixed feelings about their monarchy. While they question not only the relevance of a royal family in this day and age but also the justification of supporting their expensive lifestyle during this economic crisis. And yet the royal family continues to hold local and worldwide fascination.<br /><br />I believe it has been a tricky balance as to how much to spend on the wedding - royal and grand yet not too ostentatious, as this country has been hard hit with difficult financial times.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcwu5_OLs4bROjBzctFYIryHOihOHZQoKD_7u0LG9BGr-UdDfR6Kp1lOto26ekFmDzJv-FyFEgKBQ_yUw7mWP2c2KcBYNAa1z-eNZcLi_4Elk3Q7UbiAj8-yNoVmCQCF0qJUZEMumfnU/s1600/7868448_UrLBy3nu_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcwu5_OLs4bROjBzctFYIryHOihOHZQoKD_7u0LG9BGr-UdDfR6Kp1lOto26ekFmDzJv-FyFEgKBQ_yUw7mWP2c2KcBYNAa1z-eNZcLi_4Elk3Q7UbiAj8-yNoVmCQCF0qJUZEMumfnU/s320/7868448_UrLBy3nu_b.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea Towel<br />[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/7868448/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, gave some royal wedding scoop at a talk I recently attended (she'll be broadcasting with Katie Couric at the wedding). Here are a few things she reported:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hundreds of staff and some of the best wedding planners in the world have been working on the royal wedding around the clock. Many are ex-military employees, so the event is sure to work like clockwork with military precision.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOBGNtLuEs__XAGvJwazqmUpPui7KXyjGBcWn5iXjon6Ef47bmzjS1Bii-IOu3vu757H0HABqECUoRDBJt8Z28xTqGG4mES4j5w62boxpcO0KNZ6M4FHRPlo10G2f0YcbgcSwsVHqJQE/s1600/6138161_fwtj2lc4_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOBGNtLuEs__XAGvJwazqmUpPui7KXyjGBcWn5iXjon6Ef47bmzjS1Bii-IOu3vu757H0HABqECUoRDBJt8Z28xTqGG4mES4j5w62boxpcO0KNZ6M4FHRPlo10G2f0YcbgcSwsVHqJQE/s400/6138161_fwtj2lc4_c.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6138161/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Details you many not have thought of:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* There will be several bridal bouquets in case of mishaps<br /><br />* A specialized hair stylist will be hired with tiara experience. Tiaras are very heavy, you know, and no one wants flat hair on her big day<br /><br />* Kate will be well practiced getting in and out of the car. Like Princess Diana, it is likely Kate will have used a tablecloth pinned around her waist to duplicate the wedding dress</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YA_Wywm60Ar4opBT8q8D2jeW8SbDPLl3_WkORby9edS40ub0MpASr3yiJVarxTsy1hzZhp3PPJMFLNIeLdcsbq_W4KuoLTmZuT44lcQkcgX0qoSbO3pw2_NBPSupP9wCnbC0h8kgd6E/s1600/10703010_115jerS0_c-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YA_Wywm60Ar4opBT8q8D2jeW8SbDPLl3_WkORby9edS40ub0MpASr3yiJVarxTsy1hzZhp3PPJMFLNIeLdcsbq_W4KuoLTmZuT44lcQkcgX0qoSbO3pw2_NBPSupP9wCnbC0h8kgd6E/s400/10703010_115jerS0_c-2.jpg" width="373" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/10703010/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Following royal tradition...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Kate's wedding ring will be made of rare Welsh Gold. William probably will not wear a wedding ring</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* The cake will be cut with a sword</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* The crowd will shout 'Give Her A Kiss' when the couple appears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* There will be a 'flypast' of military planes</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* The honeymoon location has not been disclosed, but unlikely Africa since it is the rainy season, according to Ms Seward<br /><br />* Where they will call 'home' - an apartment in Kensington Palace (London) and a house in Wales<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbnFXaLWOCrG9R4IJb1R0Wt-xRKRriZJlwU_eDuMRRgYHPsSyBDNytWYRhsVHYpVYOhzwKqxqF4MHKzKiPWrTuEFZZA_fqo3aJd3CR0-kdkeieRTw4oIQ-0qVzySNYtRhV8jh21HLVKg/s1600/6517297_sL5jtkkB_c-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbnFXaLWOCrG9R4IJb1R0Wt-xRKRriZJlwU_eDuMRRgYHPsSyBDNytWYRhsVHYpVYOhzwKqxqF4MHKzKiPWrTuEFZZA_fqo3aJd3CR0-kdkeieRTw4oIQ-0qVzySNYtRhV8jh21HLVKg/s640/6517297_sL5jtkkB_c-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6517297/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can count on many camping-out overnight in London to get a good view along the wedding route. Green Park and St James's Park will be ideal locations to save a spot. There will be media stands and big screens broadcasting the event in the surrounding parks. Although it probably will be difficult to catch a glimpse of the newlywed couple, I think the atmosphere and experience would be unforgettable.<br /><br />The royal wedding is a national holiday. I suspect the reason the wedding is April 29th is because it is surrounded by a cluster of other bank holidays. If you take off work just 3 days this week in the UK, you would have yourself a nice 10-day break.  Many are fleeing the country to avoid the wedding madness or just to take advantage of the extra time off.<br /><br />Some are thinking 'Is it over yet?' with local media (and trinket) oversaturation. Furthermore, there is a mild security concern of the event being targeted by terrorists and more anarchist demonstrations.<br /><br />Nonetheless, there is no denying there a buzz in the air for this joyous, historical wedding day. Personally, I am VERY excited.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And although there have been rumors, insider Ingrid assured us Prince Charles will not abdicate (or shall I say 'abdi-Kate') the throne when his time comes to be crowned king. He will give his son relative normalcy and freedom for as long as possible before taking on big monarchical responsibilities.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQfL2SxRs3Y2w46er_mI11oxt_pF3lShlrChrZOHKo9EFM3Pum4fouZU8FHYPmDjf3e2zLMo_iC6BHOj09yhTcFDQWAwc4bvvtCYDoggWc9HWa5ZmQBepI4L7S7bhr8-ZJcbrkqQZKyM/s1600/9706316_ilkoWhC0_c-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQfL2SxRs3Y2w46er_mI11oxt_pF3lShlrChrZOHKo9EFM3Pum4fouZU8FHYPmDjf3e2zLMo_iC6BHOj09yhTcFDQWAwc4bvvtCYDoggWc9HWa5ZmQBepI4L7S7bhr8-ZJcbrkqQZKyM/s400/9706316_ilkoWhC0_c-1.jpg" width="385" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/9706316/">image</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Talk about wedding jitters - I can't even imagine how they feel<br /><br />Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for a sunny Friday<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Royal Wedding Part II - Celebrating The Royal Wedding (<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/04/royal-wedding-from-my-throne-part-2.html">here</a>)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Royal Wedding Part III - London, The Day Before The Wedding (<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/04/royal-wedding-from-my-throne-part-3.html">here</a>)</div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Have a great week!<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

The Royal Wedding From My Throne: Part 1

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK I don't know if you've heard, but there is a little wedding coming up on Friday around here :) What els...

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