cause everyone's searching for treasure;

I've mentioned before about my home sweet home town being pretty 

amazing for thrifting. York has it's fair share of charity shops, and the majority are filled to the brim with treasures. My two current favourites are the Oxfam 

store which has an incredible vinyl section, vintage cameras

 and some great vintage childrens books.

The second is the Sue Ryder shop which has the most incredible vintage and retro section, full of dresses to die for, vinyl, home ware and sewing patterns a plenty. 

Here are my favourite thrifted treasures I have found (and brought home much to my mothers annoyance) recently.

Lovely collection of vintage childrens books I've been saving up for when
I have kiddo's to read them too. The illustrations in some of them are so beautiful.

 How amazing is this casserole dish? Isn't the floral print super sweet? It only cost £2.

Pastel coloured mixing bowls have been in my top 5 must have list for a little while now,
I found these powder blue bowls in Oxfam for £5, I cannot wait to use them when I'm baking.

Ice cream sundaes are my favourite, so when I stumbled on these little beauties I 

snapped them up straight away and they were four for just £2!

These two bird salt and pepper mills weren't thrifted, but they were an absolute steal, they were £5  from 

the Urban Outfitters January sale, and I cannot wait for them to take pride of place on my kitchen table. 

Another none-thrifted item, but Brionny and me discovered these floral patterned tumblers
in the 99p store opposite our work. At just 99p for four I just couldn't resist.

These super sweet sugary coloured bowls cost just 99 pence each, and they are pretty similar 
to the brightly coloured beauts they sell in Cath Kidston too. 

Finally this funny little plate was less than a pound. I aim to create a feature on my 

wall with sweetly illustrated plates, so far I've collected this, a nursery rhyme inspired tin plate from my child hood, a cath kidston tin plate and a couple designed and created by the Brionny from Fox Bunting. 

My tips for successful thrifting - 


1. Make sure you take lots of change - most thrift stores do not accept card payments.
2. Be patient and make sure you have plenty of time to rummage.
3. Don't waste your money on things you lust after on a whim - I used to do this so often, and now I am much more careful over what I buy, I just don't have the storage space. 
4. Don't be disheartened if one week you find nothing, but the week before you've found an absolute peach. This happens often, but there's always amazing new things appearing in these stores on a daily to weekly basis.
5. Give yourself a spending limit - this will help you be much more careful over what you purchase and will often help filter out the things you want on a whim but will regret later. 

What're you favourite thrifted pieces? Do you know of any amazing thrift stores I
should definitely take a peek at? Let me know.


Sincerely, Alexa ♥ 

oh, what can you do, with a sentimental heart;

I don't know about you, but I even if I get a day or two off work I never seem to be able to get

 done everything I have listed in my head. I definitely need to be more efficient with my time. I've been super busy of late,  making sure I have my 30 Day Drawing Challenge up to date (I promise you this drawing a day thing is a lot harder than it sounds) taking driving classes, job hunting, working and planning entries for both here and for Ma Bicyclette.  Pretty much the only things that are keeping me grounded right now are my daily heart to hearts with Brionny and dreaming about future plans with Nicola. 

One thing that makes me pretty upset about being so busy is that I haven't had time to go thrifting for a few weeks now, so that's definitely how my weekend is goingto be spent - I am home alone Saturday and Sunday so I am pretty stoked for some me time. York is  amazing for thrift stores, I have a chest full of beautiful things which cost next to nothing saved up for when I finally move out (which is going to be the subject of my next post on Friday). I literally cannot help myself when it comes to pretty home furnishings, especially for my future kitchen. Do you love to thrift too?What's been your best purchase?

As promised here are my almost  up to date drawings for the 30 day challenge - I'm saving

the most recent ones for next time:

Day Four - Draw Your Favourite Place

(This is a kitchen in a house in the Lake District me and my friends and family have visited,

most amazing place ever.)

Day Five - Draw Your Best Friend(s)

Day Six - Draw Your Favourite Book Character 

  

Day Seven - Draw Your Favourite Word 

Day Eight - Draw Your Favourite Animated Character 

Day Nine - Draw Your Favourite Television Show

(Sorry, this is just awful)

Please remember to check out Ma Bicyclette for lovely posts from me and  my beautiful friends, and for my latest post later today "Cocktails and Cream Tea".  And if you're a new reader, follow my blog and my twitter and when I get to FIFTY followers I'll be doing a pretty generous give away (including some goodies from Fox Bunting). 

Sincerely, Alexa  ♥ 

star light, star bright, first star i see tonight, i wish i may, i wish i might;

My current wish list of things, which is surprisingly very small;


































Photographs c/o www.topshop.com
www.pinterest.com and www.weheartit.com

Sincerely, Alexa ♥

love is a verb, love is a doing word;

Valentines day is less than a week away, so I thought it only apt that I post something romance related.
Two thousand and eleven is the very first year I have a gorgeous boy in my life for February the fourteenth, how exciting  ♥
Romantics are a dying breed in todays society, though I like to think I at least try to keep it alive.
I cooked spaghetti bolognese from scratch, including the sauce on Friday (my boys favourite meal) and I was very proud of the final product. In my opinion, it is the small things that count -though don't get me wrong the big gestures are always much appreciated; give me a bunch of hand picked over sized daisies and you'll get the biggest smile in return.

I have been reading "Love Letters of Great Men" by Ursula Doyle, and I think it's so very sad how love is not thought upon in the same way anymore, and how men used to be proper men and why is it that today so many people are easily willing to cheat on their partners?
I myself grew up with wonderful role models in love in the form of my parents, who got together when my mama was fifteen, and were together up until my papa died late last year.
Keep romance alive ♥

Ludwig van Beethoven
1770–1827

Good morning, on 7 July

Even in bed my ideas yearn towards you, my Immortal Beloved, here and there joyfully, then again sadly, awaiting from Fate, whether it will listen to us. I can only live, either altogether with you or not at all. Yes, I have determined to wander about for so long far away, until I can fly into your arms and call myself quite at home with you, can send my soul enveloped by yours into the realm of spirits – yes, I regret, it must be. You will get over it all the more as you know my faithfulness to you; never another one can own my heart, never – never! O God, why must one go away from what one loves so, and yet my life in W. as it is now is a miserable life. Your love made me the happiest and unhappiest at the same time. At my actual age I should need some continuity, sameness of life – can that exist under our circumstances? Angel, I just hear that the post goes out every day – and must close therefore, so that you get the L. at once. Be calm – love me – to-day – yesterday.

What longing in tears for you – You – my Life – my All – farewell. Oh, go on loving me – never doubt the faithfullest heart

Of your beloved

L

Ever thine.
Ever mine.
Ever ours.




Sincerely, Alexa ♥

fact number one;

Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what's going to happen next, delicious ambiguity ♥


Sincerely, Alexa ♥

shop dixi;

Just a quick recommendation of a lovely little online boutique, Dixi.
I have used Dixi several times now for cute little accessories,  my favorite being a pair of skeleton tights, and many of the items she sells are one offs so you can be sure you'll be the only one to own it.
The owner is a little sweetheart who often runs competitions and  regularly offers out discount codes to customers old and new.
Be sure to check Dixi out and let me know what lovely treats you pick out!

Sincerely, Alexa ♥

rebellion lies;

Rebellion Lies Cover; By Benjamin Leftwich

Growing up in a small town as I did in York, you become acquainted with a whole host of local bands, some memorable, others not so much. I was recently re-introduced to the beautiful and haunting voice of Benjamin Leftwich by my friend Emma. His cover of one of my favorite songs, Rebellion Lies by Arcade Fire, is absolutely gorgeous, and his own song, Pictures, is well worth a listen and can be found on youtube with a fantastic video accompaniment. Listen out for him on Radio One, and I highly recommend buying his album.

Sincerely, Alexa  ♥

outside there's a boxcar waiting;

All pictures c/o weheartit.com

Sincerely, Alexa ♥