Hello 2010!

Happy New Year!!

I still can't believe that the holidays are over but I am definitely feeling refreshed, over excited and happy that its time to make a fresh start with things!

How was everyone's holidays? Mine was wonderful - I saw all my family and friends and I had sooo much sleep. However, I had no signal on my phone in Norfolk (so no twitter or random texts ) and for some reason our laptop wouldn't connect to anyones wifi - so I had no internet either - it was surprisingly refreshing and now I am so excited about being back.

(I missed you!)

Did I mention that I got so much sleep...? Ohhh it was wonderful!

I have so much to do now though (catch up on over a weeks worth of blogs, sort out my shop, send lots of parcels, email people...) so please bare with me :)

I'm so excited to be back!! Happy 2010 everyone!
p.s. A big hello to all my latest followers, I'm still overwhelmed by how lovely you all are and I really am so happy you're here - sorry I've been so organised with linking to everyone.

p.s.s. Farah is having a lovely giveaway to celebrate her 200th post! I love her blog so pop over and say Hi :)

Gem Award Questions and Answers!

Yeay! So here are the questions and answers from last weeks Gem Award from Cassie (finally!)

Sara asked me:

How much do you like chocolate?
I loooovee chocolate so so much! Most people who know me don't ask what I'm having for dessert or what type of cake I would prefer - if there is a chocolate choice then I am having it! My love for chocolate is only limited to milk chocolate though (preferably Cadbury's please) - I really don't like white or dark chocolate.

and what is your favourite word?
My favourite word is lovely. You've probably seen me using it alot on here and it got to the point of where every comment I wrote had it in there somewhere - I had to stop myself from writing it. I love the sound of it and I love the meaning of it!

Cassie asked me:

Which beach in the UK is your favourite and why?
I would have to say Wells-Next-The-Sea (see numerous posts) Not only do I have fond memories of there as a child (mainly the sweet shop and the park) but I have great memories of there as an adult as well (mainly the sweet shop and the park!) and Harry loves it too, it was the first beach we took him on and he had far too much fun!

Saskia asked me:

What would your perfect day in London be?
Now this is quite hard for me to answer - I have two views of London - one as a tourist and one as a resident. Living there we used to love going to the Holloway Market on a Saturday (look for the bag stall! I brought so many during the year we were there.) Then heading to Wood Green (the nearest Cineworld) to go watch a film before going to the best Italian restaurant in Finsbury Park for dinner. I sometimes really miss our little studio so much.

My perfect day as a tourist though would involve breakfast, lunch and dinner at amazing restaurants (there are so many to choose from), a trip to Harrods just to look around and get some macaroons, a walk along the Thames, a look around the Tate Modern and a few hours in Covent Garden - I adore Covent Garden! Preferably it would be at christmas where the lights look amazing and the atmosphere is like nowhere else in the world. I miss London!!

and where would your dream place to live be?
By the beach in a little cottage with a garden and some dogs.
(Short and sweet)

Molly asked me:

What is the typical day in the life of Rhianne?
I apologise in advance Molly as my typical day is really quite dull. I always oversleep, I am so rubbish at getting up, then I get ready for work and get the bus to work (fun). I then spend most of my day sat at a desk either doing work or reading/writing blogs. I get the bus home and finally get to see Boyfriend (the highlight of my day!) we then make dinner together and catch up on TV or play on the Xbox or watch a movie. Weekdays are so monotenous aren't they? We have more fun at the weekends I promise!

Diana asked me:

Why did you get started in photography and shooting film?
I have always loved film photography. The first camera I ever used as a child was a 35mm camera - the first camera I loved was a 35mm camera. I have never had a digital camera that I have loved. I got a small Kodak one for university which I dropped in my second year and never got round to replacing and even now I borrow my Boyfriend's or use my phone (which admittedly does have a good camera) if I need to take a photo.

For some reason digital never took off for me - it was too easy to take loads of pictures of nothing - too easy to put them on my computer and forget about them. I never held them in my hands after taking them, I never waited excitedly for them to develop and I felt the urge to pose, check and retake a digital photo when I wasn't happy with it ruined the spontaneity of photography, especially when out with friends or visiting somewhere new.

Falling back into using 35mm film was an accident really... even though I knew I wanted to do something different, something just for me, I didn't plan on it being photography and I think if I hadn't started this blog then I never would have brought my holga camera (or any of the others) Taking photographs with film felt a bit like coming home, almost like the years I spent doing painting and drawing at college or design at University were mearly a distraction as I fumbled through life trying to find what I loved doing the most.

I hope that these you enjoyed these answers and that they made sense! I'm going to pass this award onto Marisa (who tagged me with a music tag which I haven't done yet, sorry!), her bestie and always lovely Micaela and Callie from The Magical Bean*! You can either choose to have your own Q&A post ladies or post pictures of things that you love.

*Callie is also having an amazing gingerbread man ornament giveaway on her blog - she made them herself and I love them! You should definitely head over and enter!

p.s. Hello to my amazing newest followers! I have been a bit slack with this (sorry!) so here goes! Hello Abbie, Anna, Linda, The Brocantess, Celeste, Much Love, Boots, Munieca, Maggisaar, Nikki, Belen, Meg, Myfotoproject, Gracie, Weston-Super-Mum, JMay, Lise, Fee-Amore, Cat*, The Childlike Empress, Debbie and Rogue, I'm so glad you are all here!

200 Followers giveaway - Closed!!

Another giveaway for you! How incredibly exciting is this?!

Wow, 200 followers!!

I'm going to be honest, I am so amazed by this. Even though I have had this blog for a little while, its only in the last 3 months that the traffic and readers have really picked up and I am constantly surprised by how many of you like my little corner of the internet.

So to celebrate how excited and happy I am to have you all here I have an amazingly fantastic giveaway for you!

An 8x8 print of your choice from Lola's Room

I have been following Cassia's blog for a while now but it wasn't until I saw her shop Lola's Room on Daydream Lily that I was reminded how much I adored her photos (vintage cameras and yellow tights..? Perfect!)

As well as having two etsy shops - Lola's Room and Cassia Beck Photography, Cassia also colaborates with Shannon Blue on Everyday - a blog with 52 photographs of the same, every day objects from different perspectives - I highly recommend it!

How to enter: Check out the Lola's Room 8x8 prints and leave a comment about your favourite print below. The winner will be announced on Tuesday 24th November.

This giveaway is now closed!!
Thank you so much again for reading my blog and taking part!
p.s. Not only did I do an excited dance but I made Boyfriend dance with me too, hurray!

p.s.s. A huge hello to my latest followers who got me to 200 - Helen, The Novelista Barista, Ivy, *Donna*, Anna, Muffie, Brittany and the amazing Carrie!

Thing's I've learnt from blogs this week...

Phew, it's a busy blogging today (please don't miss out on the christmas card post below!) but at leasts its Friday - woohoo! We don't have alot planned for this weekend which I'm quite excited about...

  1. I love tights - I wish I wore them more often.
  2. This dexter candy is amazing - I'm not sure if I would be able to eat it though...
  3. I want this card - its so cute!
  4. I wish my house exterior was this colourful.
  5. Wow - Jeff Hutton is sending out polaroids for free! (Thanks for tweeting about this Diana!)

I hope that you all have wonderful weekends whatever you have planned :)

p.s. Hello to my newest followers Mart and Lu, Farah, The Blanga Is, Katie, Molly Yeh, Shilbe Le, Gothic Chook, I Heart Yhoo, Tiffanny, Chymere, Peenkfrik, Kate, Shellbell, Blogger2r, Meg, Michely, JPRP, The Socialite and Amy! I'm so excited you are all here :)

p.s.s. Does anyone else think this friends connect thing sucks? Why doesn't it automatically link to peoples blogs so I can link to them here?! bah