Sunday 29 December 2013

Its been a fabulous Christmas

Firstly, I want to say compliments of the season to you all.  I mean it's a little late to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a bit early to say Happy New Year (although, I'm wishing that to you anyway).

But I will say what a wonderful December we've had.  I've been really lucky that Simon has taken a good chunk of the month off, so that meant spending time with him.  We've not done a great deal, but we just spent the time pottering around, doing nothing in particular ... just enjoying the season.

Each year I tend to decorate our home a little different; and I'm defiantly in the camp of more is always better. So every room, every inch of our home has some decorations. Again, it makes us happy. Talking of which, rather than have "one little word" next year, I'm going to have a great deal of "one little words" ..... Happy, being one of them.  The other I'm really thinking of is; Focus .... and by that I mean focus on what makes us happy .... see, win win ... two little words in one.  Anyway, getting back to the pictures; here they are. A round up of our month.

Firstly our home this season .... I actually couldn't wait much longer, so started decorating on the 30th November. I know, I have a problem :)



Huge change for me not to have a garland on it. but we've loved it.

Our Dining Room
 
I love my Utility Room so much with the fairy lights, I may just leave them up through the year.
 
I printed out pictures of Mum & Dad and also one of Aunty Barbara so that they shared our Christmas with us


The Tree in our Bedroom, had our presents under it

Then we had a fabulous time at the Livery Christmas Dinner this year, which was held at stationers Hall, just the most beautiful place.

 
oh ... and I got a speeding ticket, so have to do a speed awareness course in the new year :(
 
 
Eddie got treated as well ... with a new bed. Memory foam no less :) ... I'm hoping it will help with his arthritis - and of course, he loved his Advent calendar each day.

 
 
 Also, every year, Emma and I do an Advent Swap as our Christmas present to each other. We even fill out a form that gives us ideas on what each of us would like (saves costly mistakes) but we do this early in September, so by the time 1st December comes along, we've both forgotten what we put on our list.  Anyway, as you'll see, Emma wrapped my gifts sooooo beautifully and I had just the most fabulous time opening a present each day from the 1st to the 25th.  Now as much as we're so similar in all we do, we actually have the opposite taste in scrapping, so sorry Emma, that you had to buy things you didn't like.  Do pop over to her blog HERE, and see what she got from me.  Like I say, she's got rubbish taste lol. We also like different wrapping ... Emma, loves kraft, browns and grey ... whereas give me colour any day.  So mine was all wrapped in oranges and pinks which I LOVED.


Papers were Elle Studio, MME, Teresa Collins and Alison Kreft (all stunning)
Isn't this just the most GORGEOUS ... advent swap. Oh I'm in love with it all.

Even Simon and Eddie got in on the presents from her :)


This year, I haven't really shown you much of my project life album, but I have to say, I've loved doing this project, and have pretty much kept up to date with it. Well, maybe a couple of months behind. But on the whole I've been pleased with it and have certainly learnt a lot. So yay, I'm jumping in again for 2014 and I'll make sure I share more of it with you. I also hope to blog more next year too ... and craft and create more. 

So here's to a fabulous and creative 2014 to you all too. May the year be filled with health and happiness for you all xxx

Cheers


Friday 8 November 2013

Quick of the Mark

Happy Friday to you all, and I do hope the weather is better with you than it is with me today - I'm writing this while the rain is hammering down. Which although isn't really effecting me as I'm in the dry - it's the wet dog with the wagging tail, running around that isn't what I had planned, after I'd just washed my floors!

Anyway, I'd like to share with you a couple of things today. Firstly is finally a layout - Its been ages since I actually shared any scrapping with you all.  This was a layout I did for a challenge over on UKS this week. Now I'm not a fan of Halloween - don't get me wrong, I still like the little ones knocking for sweets all dressed up, and of course, I love the decorating for it. Its just not something I really get. But saying that, I did have the cutest visitors.


The second thing I'd like to share with you is a recipe, and the reason for this, is that whenever I make them, I always have someone asking me to forward it onto them. They're so incredible easy to bake and quick too. I took these to the crop last night, and well, lets just say they went down rather well!

Its an old, Good Food magazine recipe for Vintage Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Ingredients
150g Salted Butter, Softened
80g light brown muscovado sugar (I have used other brown sugar before, and they've worked fine)
80g granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
225g plain flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/4 tsp of salt
200g plain chocolate chips

  • Preheat the oven to 190C/170C fan/Gas 5. Line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper. 

  • Put the butter and sugars into a bowl and beat until creamy. Beat in the vanilla extract and egg. Sieve the four, bicarbonate of soda and salt over the mixture and mix in with a wooden spoon. Add the chocolate chips and stir well.

  • Using a teaspoon, place small mounds of the mixture well apart on the baking trays. Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes until light brown on the edges and still slightly soft in the centre.

  • Leave on the tray for a couple of minutes to firm up and then transfer to a cooling rack.


And hey presto ... you have yumminess! Trust me, these will go rather quickly.

I hope you enjoy your weekend, I'm hoping to do a little more scrapping and some project life too ... well, that's the plan.  Have fun x

Sunday 27 October 2013

Waiting for a Storm

Well the weather forecasters say we have a storm a coming! .... so what else is a girl to do while waiting?

Bake of course!


Normally, I'm a Delia fan when it comes to Christmas cooking, but this year I'm going to change it up a bit - so out came another favourite Christmas book. Actually, although I've had this book a while, I've not really made much from it, and last night while flicking through, I've already been busy with my tabs, marking future cooking session. 

So, the fruit has been soaking in during the night, and I'm now going to make a start.  I will say, I was surprised at how much bourbon it said to soak the fruit in, 200ml ! So trust me, we'll be having a very "Merry" Christmas when time comes.

Enjoy your Sunday and fingers crossed the storm doesn't cause too much damage to anyone.

Friday 11 October 2013

Cozy Time

I love this time of year, when the season changes and the nights are starting to draw in. Don't get me wrong I adore summer, and especially the summer we've just had. If we could have a really hot hot summer and a cold and snowy winter, I'd be over the moon.

Still, October is just such a lovely month ... all those leaves on the floor, winter boots coming out of the cupboard and of course Christmas, only 75 days away, what's not to love.

I apologise now for having been a bad blogger (again), but with the nights drawing in and cozy times sitting in front of the fire, I hope to change all that.

Anyway, I've been busy this week putting away summer in our home, and bringing touches of Autumn to it, so here are a few things I've been changing.

Plants and Door Wreath

Candles got changed over ... love this scent

Yipppeeeee .... Winter boots make a return

 No point letting these beauties go to waste from the garden


 The bunting came down and the autumn candles came out

Artificial flowers got changed over for a warmer feel
 
I changed over the flowers on our wall to these leaves that I cut out and inked
 
Changed over my pots 
 
I don't even mind sweeping up the leaves and fallen fruit ... yes, the boy isn't the greatest of helps when I'm trying to photograph - but he does like to get in a shot :)

And lastly, this is going to be keeping me happy with my post it notes for the next few nights.
 
I've also been having a lovely time catching up with my blog reading, so I promise to try my best and be a better blogger.
 
Catch you later x

Tuesday 27 August 2013

We've been busy

I've been dipping my toe back into the world of blogging again. After advice from Sian about getting around so many blogs to visit ... I'm feeling happier :) also the lovely Fi gave me permission to scrub my feedly reader clean and start afresh. (yes, I've decided I prefer feedly more than blog lovin)

So, I thought a round up in photos would give you an idea of what I've been up to, I apologies that this post is photo heavy, and also to those that have seen some of them in Instagram.

Firstly,

I was busy making bunting for the party
and pom poms
 
I finally learnt to crochet. I attend a class at the most amazing place in Dorking, called Gorgeous Gerties, and the woman teaching, just was amazing ... and so finally it clicked.

She also taught a free motion embroidery class, which I attended ... AND LOVED.
At the same place, I did a dressmaking class, and made this skirt ... and I've already signed up to do the next stage in dressmaking, ... making a dress
I've been hand sewing a lot, and making these fabulous little hexi's ready for a quilt for the little house.  
And my beautiful friend Michelanne, gave birth (finally) to the most beautiful, adorable little girl, called Charlotte.
 
Next ... the Silver Wedding Party
 
Making the invitations was fun

I so loved making this door wreath too
The marquee looked fabulous and was great fun to decorate


The food was AMAZING!!! Thank you to Celia, at Delightful Dining

Full House ... and partying until early hours of the morning (3am to be exact)
 
Darling little Matthew tucked into the sweetie bar ... you can come back and visit me anytime little man, even if it's just to finish off the sweeties xxx
 
The Groom 
The bride, had waaaayyyy to many glasses of champagne. 
My gorgeous Pandora bracelet, was my anniversary present

My boy was so good; and just LOVED all the fuss and offerings of food!
Always thinking Project Life ... I made these guest signing cards, so I have something to remember all those that partied with us
Finally the thank you cards have been made and sent.
 
So as you can see, we've been busy. We've also been given the go ahead with planning for the little house, so yipppeeee our next project begins. 
 
Thanks for sticking through all the photos.