When I Grow Up | A Style and Creative Living blog by Helen Hobden

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Reaching a YouTube goal

a vintage style floral dress

Adagio teas

Beach holiday in Lanzarote

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a vintage style floral dress

A 1970’s Vintage-style dress

December 11, 2018

I’ll be honest, I totally forgot about this photo-shoot we did back at the end of summer! What with our month in America and week in the Canary Islands, I’m afraid I’m a bit all over the place! I bought this ditsy floral dress from Zara back in the January sales and I’d been saving it for autumn as the colours and pattern are just perfect….

Beach holiday in Lanzarote

A week in Lanzarote for a Canary Islands winter sun holiday

December 7, 2018

The all-round plan for this holiday was to do as little as possible. Everyone in the family agreed, but admittedly, all had slightly different versions in our minds of what ‘doing nothing’ actually meant! We have never had a holiday like this. In the past it’s all been road trips and busy sight-seeing adventures and after an exhausting week exploring Rome and Venice earlier in the year, we thought we were due a relaxing time away for a change….

Reaching a YouTube goal

A quick Vlogmas update + 1000 thank yous!

December 5, 2018

If you haven’t heard of Vlogmas, or aren’t entirely sure what it is, it’s when a bunch of entirely mad youtubers decide that in the busiest time of the year they will vlog every single day of their life from the first of December until Christmas Day and edit and upload the video the following day. There is of course the blogging equivalent: Blogmas, but as I’ve done Blogtober in the past, I’m not about to try that again! I was one of those mad youtubers last year and the year before, but in 2018 I thought I’d do something a bit different….

Styling the Joe Browns Dreamer Hooded jacket

The Perfect Purple Winter Coat

December 4, 2018

I didn’t know I actually needed a purple coat until I found one. As I mentioned before though, it was the whole reason for my Joe Browns order a few weeks ago, and I’ve hardly stopped wearing it since it arrived! Although it definitely is purple, it isn’t in-your-face purple, and surprisingly, the colour goes with pretty much everything I own!

How to hide talking to yourself

4 problems people who talk to themselves have to face and how to solve them

November 29, 2018

People think you’re mad. Or at the very least, a bit weird. Although it’s kind of nice that your husband also works from home, or is just around a lot; it’s really annoying that you can’t talk loudly to yourself; because even though it’s only him, that would still be a bit embarrassing. If you just think a thought, it’s not quite real enough, so you have no choice than to say it out loud. That can actually be somewhat bothersome. Particularly in public…..

Visiting Indian well state park

Visiting Indian Well State Park in Connecticut and styling a bohemian red dress

November 25, 2018

When Chris and I have a trip to Connecticut for his work, we always make the best of the weekends by going exploring. And I make the best of going exploring by making sure we get the outfit posts for the blog at the same time! This was a little visit to Indian Well State Park….

Christmas Crafts - How to decorate the Hobbycraft paper mache reindeer heads

December 17, 2018

Please vote for me in the UK Blog Awards here: https://bit.ly/2Ag0yKe I would appreciate it SO much! How to decorate paper mache reindeer or stag heads for Christmas. Although Rain's pink one could be for any time of year! These were bought from Hobbycraft and it's a simple DIY transformation to make a unique wall hanging decoration! Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11

Lanzarote, UK Blog Awards, Glastonbury Frost Fayre & lighting the Rayburn. November Vlogs

December 11, 2018

Please vote for me in the UK Blog Awards here: https://bit.ly/2Ag0yKe I would appreciate it SO much! My November Vlogs - last month we returned home from America, then went on holiday with the kids to Lanzarote, discovered I'm in the running for a UK Blog Award (but please can I have your help to get on the shortlist!), looked around the Glastonbury Frost Fayre and lit the Rayburn for winter. It was a really good month! Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11

Autumn - Winter 2018 Lookbook - outfit ideas & inspo

December 4, 2018

Please vote for me in the UK Blog awards; just click 'vote now' under When I Grow Up blog: https://bit.ly/2Ag0yKe Thank you!! Blog posts about each outfit: Mustard jumper and 1950's style dress: https://bit.ly/2SrHvnW Red fluted sleeve dress: https://bit.ly/2ANzjah Purple coat: (Coming later today!) Grey checked dress and maroon cardigan: https://bit.ly/2AM0rGs Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11

Living my best life - the pressures of being a content creator

Why creators shouldn’t be criticised for posting their best life

November 23, 2018

The reality of my October is this: I spent a miserable month in a block of flats with paper-thin walls and not getting much sleep due to the noises; a tiny bed and inability to relax in such a soulless place. What you see of my October is quite different: Photos of me smiling in outfit posts on my Instagram and blog; photos of beautiful landscapes and sunsets; blog posts about pretty parks and interesting places to visit, and youtube videos showing me being (mainly) positive. Creators get a lot of stick in the media for giving an unrealistically happy, positive, perfect image of life, but at the end of the day, would you actually want it any differently?

joe browns pretty pinafore dress

Styling the Joe Browns Pretty Pinafore dress at Boston Common

November 20, 2018

Although it was the heaviest item of clothing in the suitcase, which was straining past the 20kg limit, I couldn’t travel to America without this new grey dress I recently bought from Joe Browns, I absolutely love it! And then, during our month in Connecticut we had the opportunity for a brief weekend trip to Boston, Massatusetts, so we thought we’d use make the most of the New England fall colours to take outfit photos for the blog….

essential tips for visiting Rome

10 Essential top tips for visiting Rome

November 15, 2018

This isn’t a blog post about what to see and where to visit in Rome – you probably know most of that already! However there are a few things the guide books and travel blogs might not have mentioned that would be quite useful if you’re planning a sight-seeing holiday to Rome….

a dress for beyond halloween

A Witchy dress for beyond Halloween

November 6, 2018

If you were to imagine what a witch might wear when she’s off-duty but still wants to identify as a witch, then this dress would be perfect! I didn’t buy it with Halloween in mind, but pair it with a pointy hat and you’ve got yourself a costume! Knowing I would be in America for Halloween this year, this is the dress I packed and wore on the day, but I wore it other times as well….

jack o'lantern blaze

Visiting the Jack o’lantern Blaze & wearing my new purple coat

October 30, 2018

We couldn’t be in America without visiting a Halloween event, could we? Friends recommended the Jack o’lantern Blaze at Croton-on-Hudson in New York, and we were lucky enough to get tickets. This event sells out weeks beforehand, but I think I happened to be online when a new batch was released for an 8:30pm time slot on Tuesday. So I bought the tickets in a bit of a panic, but didn’t really know what it was I was buying them for!…

A 1950s dress styled for fall

Styling a 1950’s dress with a mustard jumper for autumn

October 23, 2018

We’ve had a real mix of weather lately haven’t we?! I’m actually across the pond in Connecticut right now, but I think it’s fairly similar to the UK – lovely and sunny one day, and then cold and grey the next. This outfit would have been perfect the day before we took the photos! However it was ten degrees cooler when the weekend rolled around and I have to be honest, my bare legs were a little chilly! Anyway, this is a great way to layer for changeable weather, but maybe pack a pair of skin-coloured tights too!…

Halloween in America! *Vlog*

November 23, 2018

Please vote for me in the UK Blog awards; just click 'vote now' under When I Grow Up blog: https://bit.ly/2Ag0yKe Thank you!! A vlog of our last two weeks in America; having a day in Boston; visiting The jack o'lantern Blaze and going trick or treating. Blog post about sharing just the positive: https://bit.ly/2r47NAF Blog post about the Jack o'Lantern Blaze: https://bit.ly/2BrspsS Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11

Exploring Connecticut & New York in Autumn. *Travel vlog*

November 9, 2018

Chris and I travel to America where we explore state parks in Connecticut and New York and see a wonderful sunset from the top of Bear Mountain. Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11

Decorating autumn cushion covers & testing Derwent Inktense sticks on fabric

November 2, 2018

I've been wanting to test the Derwent Inktense Sticks on fabric for a while, so I thought I'd decorate some cushion covers for autumn. Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11