It's Been Too Long

Hello, hello, hello...to quote Ru Paul. How are you all? As the post title says, it has been too long since I sat down to write something here, and I've missed it. I've been writing this blog for twelve years now, and sometimes there are seasons where the words just will not stop...and there are other times when it's time to take a step back and reflect, regroup, and come back stronger. And that time is now.

It's been a quiet time for me over the last few months. The autumn into winter transition is always a favourite time of year for me, but it's also a time when I tend to isolate myself a little, to take a step back from things, and that's especially been the case this year. It was a quiet December, but a pleasant December, and now I'm excited to get back into the swing of things at home, at work, and here on the blog.

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How was your Christmas? Ours was calm and cosy, full of relaxation and fun. 

On Friday Emily and Adam came for a visit and we have a lovely evening catching up over veggie curry and champagne. Then on Saturday we went to the Wolseley for a delicious lunch before going to see Hamilton. Which was AWESOME. Everything I'd hoped for. Then we waved Adam and Ems off and had a chilled evening of cocktails and Wahaca.

Christmas Eve was a day at home (I love how festive our sitting room looks!), wrapping the last few gifts, reading and relaxing with the cats. I made a piri piri rice dish and then we curled up with popcorn and cups of tea to watch Elf.

Christmas Day began with Smudge working out how to get into our bedroom through the window and making fast friends with our little tree up there. Then coffee and baked good before opening so many lovely gifts. I got thoroughly spoiled with books, toiletries, stationery, and the Kate Spade bag I'd been lusting over for months!

Matthew was a bit coldy, so he curled up for a sleep while I set the table and cooked dinner, while watching Love Actually. We had a proper feast - chicken and beef; roasties and mash; peas, sweetcorn, carrots & sprouts; stuffing and Yorkies; cranberry sauce and gravy. I don't have the sweetest tooth so the meal was a big treat! After the dishes were conquered we had an evening of Monopoly and poker, as well as finally drinking the port we had been gifted for our engagement (four and a half years ago!).

This picture of Poppet sums up our Boxing Day succinctly.

For supper I used the leftover beef to make a pasta sauce, along with peppers, onions, tomatoes and chilli. It was yummy, if I do say so myself, and so nice to enjoy a 'proper' meal after a day of snacking.

Boxing Day evening was booking hotels for our February trip (more on that to follow soon) & watching football for Matthew, and reading and It's A Wonderful Life for me. A perfect, quiet Christmas. And now it's the time for tidying, for catching up, and for getting back into the swing of things!

How are you spending your time between Christmas and New Year's? What do you have planned for NYE? 

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Getting ready for Christmas

We are well and truly into the Christmas rush now. The last few cards and gifts need to be sent, the social whirl is in frenetic mode, and Mariah Carey is everywhere, like some kind of golden-voiced, glittery diva angel.

I approve.

As we head towards the celebrations proper, I am all about getting ready for Christmas. There are so many little things to do to ensure the festive period goes smoothly.

I like to check that our Christmas food orders are sorted and doublechecked (thank heavens for online shopping too, I must say). We're getting most of our stuff delivered by Ocado on the 23rd, and we have some delicious options on the list (Poppet is most interested in the large free range turkey crown of course!).

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Happy Monday #18

It's Monday, it's the start of the week, which means it's time for a lovely, positive start to the week. Katy and Jasmin inspired me with their cheery posts each week, and now, when schedule allows, I join in with a happy Monday of my own. Originally I updated weekly, but as the year has progressed and life has changed (and will continue to do so as we move into 2017), I will be doing these on a more ad hoc basis - when I've time and things to share I'll be here :).

1. A very happy birthday

On Saturday I turned 36 (36, man!) and had a lovely, lovely day. Cards and cakes and messages and wine and wonderful people meant I entered a new year on the planet feeling happy, lucky, and surrounded by love. I'm so fortunate to have the people I have in my life.

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Book Review: A Christmas Cornucopia

Now that Advent Sunday has passed, I am transitioning well and truly into Christmas mode. Trees are being trimmed, jollity abounds, and the strains of Christmas music can be heard as I busy myself writing cards, running errands, and planning fun. I truly adore this season, as Advent moves towards Christmas proper, and have been accused more than once of being a little bit of a Christmas geek.

How perfect, then, that Penguin sent me a copy of Mark Forsyth's A Christmas Cornucopia to review in the lead up to the festive season. I'm a big fan of Forsyth's other books (being an English teacher I've been gifted other books of his in the past and particularly enjoyed The Etymologicon) and was happy to hear he'd turned his talents to the delights of Christmas.

Forsyth's tone is a unique one - it always reminds me of a brilliant professor holding forth on a subject they know well. Whatever twists and turns the narrative may take, you never doubt that you are in expert hands and are quite happy to follow along with Forsyth as he traverses eras, traditions and cultures. Rather than employing a dull list format, this is a book where the prose flows, taking you on a journey, and the whole book is suffused with humour. It really was a treat to sit down and read a chapter or two after lunch or before bed.

The content of the book is fascinating. Despite being a bit of a Christmas nut I was delighted to discover that there was much contained within that I did not know already. Each chapter brings plenty of information and charm, but I think chapter 5 (entitled Santa Claus: The Biography) is my favourite; I feel I am quite the expert on Saint Nick now.

This is a sweet and illuminating book and I think it would make a lovely gift. I think I'll be sending copies to a couple of friends who love this season too, and I think it would be appreciated by fans of Christmas, history and culture alike.







Disclaimer: As mentioned above, I was gifted a copy of the book. All opinions and Christmassy glee are my own.

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Gift Guide Bonanza - a gift guide for everyone!

I'm going to be doing my gift guides a little differently this year. By nature a planner, I really enjoy having a good think about what to gift and for me the months of October and November are a fun season of thinking about presents and planning what to give. Add in all the fun that I had at various 'Christmas in July' events earlier in the year and I am just full to bursting with inspiration!

Rather than doing gifts guides for him, or gifts guides for her, this year I set out to arrange my guides around themes, so I set up boards to address a certain interest, area or passion. I've really enjoyed sharing the posts I've written so far, but as we've galloped through the month of November I've come to realise I won't have time to do a post per board - with 21 still to go I wouldn't be able to write about anything else! 

So today this is my bonanza post with links to all the boards I've created. Whether you're looking for a gift for a Harry Potter fan, a baker, a child or a puppy - I've got you. Clicking on each title will take you to the board full of gift ideas. 

Gift Guide: The Baker

Gift Guide: Bathing and Pampering

Gift Guide: Beauty and Makeup

Gift Guide: The Blogger

Gift Guide: The Book Lover

Gift Guide: The Cheese Lover

Gift Guide: For Children

Gift Guide: The Coffee Lover

Gift Guide: The Cook

Gift Guide: The Country Set

Gift Guide: The Disney Darling

Gift Guide: The Dog Lover

Gift Guide: The Entertainers

Gift Guide: The Gardener

Gift Guide: The Londoner

Gift Guide: For Pets (Cats and Dogs)

Gift Guide: The Potterhead

Gift Guide: Stationery

Gift Guide: The Travellers

Gift Guide: Typography and Colouring Books

I'll be adding to all of these boards as we approach the big day - I hope you might find at least one of them useful. Happy shopping!

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Happy Monday/Ten Happy Things #17

It's Monday, it's the start of the week, and I'm joining up as ever with Katy and Jasmin for a lovely, positive start to the week. I didn't do a happy Monday last week, as other responsibilities and general busy-ness got in the way but there's been plenty of happy going on, no fear!

1. Hibernating

While I've still been getting out and about, the rest of the time I've been embracing to cosy in full. What a lovely thing it is to be curled up inside a warm house as the rain lashes down outside. Such a simple, wholesome pleasure.

2. Brunch with some lovely ladies

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Gift Guide: For The Tea Lover

I'm going to be doing my gift guides a little differently this year. By nature a planner, I really enjoy having a good think about what to gift and for me the months of October and November are a fun season of thinking about presents and planning what to give. Add in all the fun that I had at various 'Christmas in July' events earlier in the year and I am just full to bursting with inspiration!

Rather than doing gifts guides for him, or gifts guides for her, this year I'm arranging my guides around themes, so the lists will address a certain interest, area or passion. Each post has an accompanying Pinterest board too, so I can keep adding great finds as I come to them! I hope these prove useful and that you might find an item or two that works for you.

Today's guide is all about tea - the drink that keeps us Brits fueled up and ready to go. In a year where what it means to be British seems to be in utter turmoil, it's nice to be able to point to a few universals, and the people of Britain love a cuppa.

For the person who enjoys an unusual and innovative flavour, how about this Eton Mess Tea (£8.25, Postea at Not On The High Street)? There are so many varieties and blends around, you'll be sure to find something your friend or relative will enjoy. For the tea drinker who like to be proper about such things, how about a beautiful cup and saucer (£13, John Lewis) to enliven the daily ritual?

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Getting festive with John Lewis, and the nicest biscotti recipe I've ever tried

A couple of weeks back, the lovely folks at John Lewis invited a bunch of bloggers to join them at the Waitrose Cookery School for an evening of cookery and cocktails. Designed to be an event to inspire us in our own cooking, we had a marvellous evening of cooking, chatting, and generally getting festive.

Blogging in the age of snapchat and insta-stories requires all phones to be at the ready!

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Gift Guide: Cocktails, Beer and Wine, oh my!

As I mentioned last week, I'm going to be doing my gift guides a little differently this year. By nature a planner, I really enjoy having a good think about what to gift and for me the months of October and November are a fun season of thinking about presents and planning what to give. Add in all the fun that I had at various 'Christmas in July' events earlier in the year and I am just full to bursting with inspiration!

Rather than doing gifts guides for him, or gifts guides for her, this year I'm arranging my guides around themes, so the lists will address a certain interest, area or passion. Each post has an accompanying Pinterest board too, so I can keep adding great finds as I come to them! I hope these prove useful and that you might find an item or two that works for you.

Today's gift guide? Is for the people who know their Merlot from their Malbec, the budding mixologists, and the beer fans - I know I have a few of these on my Christmas list! Of course a great choice is drink itself (I'm crossing my fingers for some Tanqueray 10), but I've looked mainly at accessories and additions.

This 'cheers' sign (£24, West Elm) would look fabulous is any home bar - love the gold tinge of the brass! I love being gifted unusual spirits and mixers to develop cocktails - how delicious does this Blackberry Gin (£22.50, The Ely Gin Company on Not On The High Street) sound? Also on Not On The High Street, how fab are these drink-inspired teatowels (£31, Hey Holla) - a very chic way to keep things neat and tidy!

These cocktail-inspired soaps (£6, John Lewis) would be a lovely stocking filler or a hostess gift - I've actually bought one of these for a friend already and can confirm they smell amazing! For a beautiful wine rack, look no further than this beauty (£30, Habitat) - I love the pretty honeycomb design.

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Gift Guide: For Babies and Toddlers

As I mentioned last week, I'm going to be doing my gift guides a little differently this year. By nature a planner, I really enjoy having a good think about what to gift and for me the months of October and November are a fun season of thinking about presents and planning what to give. Add in all the fun that I had at various 'Christmas in July' events earlier in the year and I am just full to bursting with inspiration!

Rather than doing gifts guides for him, or gifts guides for her, this year I'm arranging my guides around themes, so the lists will address a certain interest, area or passion. Each post has an accompanying Pinterest board too, so I can keep adding great finds as I come to them! I hope these prove useful and that you might find an item or two that works for you.

As a proud auntie and godmother, selecting presents for the little folk in my life is a real pleasure. Whether it's adorable outfits, great books or fun toys, there are so many wonderful things for little people to enjoy!

I love the book The Fox and the Star (£6.99, Waterstones) - it's a very sweet story and the illustrations are beautiful.  I have a soft spot too for this gorgeous polar bear romper (£22.50, Boden) which looks lovely and cosy for little folk in the December chill!

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Gift Guide: For the Cat Lover

As I explained in my first post on this theme on Wednesday I'm going to be doing my gift guides a little differently this year. By nature a planner, I really enjoy having a good think about what to gift and for me the months of October and November are a fun season of thinking about presents and planning what to give. Add in all the fun that I had at various 'Christmas in July' events earlier in the year and I am just full to bursting with inspiration!

Rather than doing gifts guides for him, or gifts guides for her, this year I'm arranging my guides around themes, so the lists will address a certain interest, area or passion. Each post has an accompanying Pinterest board too, so I can keep adding great finds as I come to them! I hope these prove useful and that you might find an item or two that works for you.

Today, I'll be sharing some gifts for the cat lovers amongst us (dog-folk, fear not, I have some great finds for you coming up soon as well). Here are some gifts that would be great for a feline fan - I'll share a few here but there are also loads of options over on my Pinterest board (and I'll be adding more finds over there throughout November and December).

I adore this 'If I Fits, I Sits' teatowel (Woah There Pickle on Not On The High Street, £9.50). If like us the recipient has cats who are obsessed with boxes, this is a great gift!

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Book Review: The Nightmare Before Christmas

One of my favourite treats in the run up to Christmas is curling up in front of the Christmas tree with a hot beverage (or a cheeky cocktail) and watching a Christmas movie. I am properly into films at this time of the year, and in addition to the ten I listed in my post last year, there are several others that get trotted out ever December. Gone With the Wind. The Sound of Music. Mary Poppins. And The Nightmare Before Christmas.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is such a wonderful, heartwarming tale, as Jack Skellington tries to bring his own special magic to Christmas. Inventive, silly, creepy and heartwarming, it's a sweet and cosy tale with just enough darkness to avoid the saccharine-ness of some festive fare. I was delighted, then, when I learned that Penguin was publishing a picture book of the story on the Picture Puffin imprint, with words and illustrations by Tim Burton, the film's auteur.

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Gift Guide: For the Happy, Hygge-filled Home

I'm going to be doing my gift guides a little differently this year. By nature a planner, I really enjoy having a good think about what to gift and for me the months of October and November are a fun season of thinking about presents and planning what to give. Add in all the fun that I had at various 'Christmas in July' events earlier in the year and I am just full to bursting with inspiration!

Rather than doing gifts guides for him, or gifts guides for her, this year I'm arranging my guides around themes, so the lists will address a certain interest, area or passion. Each post has an accompanying Pinterest board too, so I can keep adding great finds as I come to them! I hope these prove useful and that you might find an item or two that works for you.

Today's gift guide is for the happy, hygge-filled home. Hygge, long a tradition in Denmark, has really had a moment here in the last eighteen months, and the nation seems more than ready to curl up and hibernate! My board is full of gifts for those who like a cosy, welcoming home each winter. From beautiful homewares to guides to hygge living; sweet treats to bath-time delights, this is a group of gifts for the hibernators amongst us.

My pinterest board is at fifty items and growing, but I also wanted to share a few of my favourite items here on the blog.

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Happy Monday/Ten Happy Things #14

It has been genuinely one of the most rollercoaster-y (NB I don't think that's a word....but it totally should be!) weeks in memory, but there's been so much good, too. So as I write this up, full of cold, still disappointed that the trains failed to get me to Bristol for my godson's christening (love you, little guy - will visit soon!), the overall mood is sunny (unlike the grey London skies today). Add in the fact that it's getting cooler and cooler, Halloween is just around the corner, and the diary is filling up with time with some gorgeous folk...and you have the perfect frame of mind for a Happy Monday post!

So....It's Monday, it's the start of the week, and I'm joining up as ever with Katy and Jasmin for a lovely, positive start to the week. Let's go!

1. I have a godson!

My darling friend Naomi was kind enough to ask me to be godmother to her and her husband's handsome and intelligent little guy (don't even try to argue with me, I am entirely biased in my godson's favour and he's clearly going to be one of the most amazing, clever, kind and talented humans ever). While Network Rail prevented me making the ceremony yesterday (note, a cold-ridden thirtysomething welling up on a train is never a good look) I am so excited to go visit him and his parents soon! Perhaps wearing my fairy godmother wings....

2. Baby shower fun

How sweet is this cake from Anges de Sucre?

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Our Christmas Decorations

For the past few years I've faithfully done our decorations tour mid-December, but this year finds me doing so much later than usual.  I still wanted to share though, because I *love* decorating for Christmas, and now the busy season of planning and posting and partying has passed, I'm so happy with our festive little home. Three trees, tinsel aplenty, even festive handtowels.  I love it. I hope you enjoy, and you can see previous years by clicking through on the relevant year (2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009).  I'm off to enjoy my favourite day of the year!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

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