Showing posts with label december. Show all posts
Showing posts with label december. Show all posts

Friday, 17 January 2014

365 project - december

'silver', 'where I stood', 'reflect...best bit of 2013'
'shadow', 'celebrate', 'something awesome'
'tradition', 'joy is...', 'tis the season to'
'red', 'lights', 'on the door'

A few of my favourite photos from my 365Project in December. Why don't you try taking a photo a day and posting it on the 365 site; it's just the time of year to start.  It really is a great community on there. I am now more than half way through. Come over and have a look at the rest of my pics and at what it's all about.

I was very happy when my photo of 'on the door' was chosen for the 'Fab 4' on Fatmumslim's Photo-a-day Facebook page. It made my day. 

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, 9 January 2014

the winter tag

I was tagged a few weeks ago by the lovely Andrea at Cous Cous & Cork Wedges to take part in The Winter Tag. Pop by to see Andrea and her lovely blog, she would love to see you there.

'Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire; it is the time for home' - Edith Sitwell. This quote says it all for me as this is exactly what I think about winter.

The rules 

Share twelve random facts about yourself
Answer the 12 questions
List 12 bloggers you wish to tag on by letting them know you have nominated them

My 12 Random Facts

1. I have only done karaoke once in my life; never again!
2. I have managed to get to 41 without breaking any bones; touch wood!
3. I have scars on my knees as I was always falling over as a child.
4. I've given up on camping as it always rains when I do! Sleeping in a bed is much more my style!
5. I never had a birthday party as a child so I'm making up for it now.
6. I love to sing in the shower, in the car, in fact I love to sing every where!
7. I have an addiction to cup-a-soups.
8. In the words of Bridget Jones 'I choose vodka and Chaka Khan'!
9. I love cheese, the smellier the better!
10. I like paintings that I can imagine myself being in.
11. I am a hopeless romantic.
12. I have never bought a lottery ticket.

The Questions

What are your favourite things about winter?
Sitting by my cosy, warm woodburner with my fluffy socks and pj's on. Hot chocolate and marshmallows and stews.

What is your favourite winter outfit?
My tan coloured cape with a jumper and skinny jeans with little booties and a chunky scarf.

What is your favourite winter food?
A delicious slow cooked lamb tagine with couscous with toffee apple cake for dessert.

What is your favourite winter drink?
I am loving the delicious Starbucks Gingerbread lattes. Delicious!

How do you like your make up in the winter?
I love to wear a bit of gold, sparkly eyeshadow at this time of year with a darker lipgloss.

What are you hoping Santa brings you?
Santa bought me everything I asked for especially the happy family. I also got a polar bear onesie, what more could a girl wish for!

What is your favourite winter scent?
I love the smell of cinnamon especially when I'm making mulled wine.

What is your favourite winter memory?
We had a big snowfall a couple of years ago that brought the whole town to a standstill. The road outside of our house was impassable. It is the only time in the eleven years we have lived here that we could freely walk down the middle of the road. Everywhere looked so beautiful!

What is your dream way to spend a winters day?
Wrapping up warm and going for a walk and coming back to hot chocolate with marshmallows. Then spending the afternoon in front of the woodburner watching old black and white movies.

What are the first three things that remind you of winter?
Darker nights, feeling the need to wear a hat and bare branches on trees.

What is your favourite winter song?
I have been in love with Dean Martin's song 'Let It Snow' for years. It always brings a smile to my face.

Finish this sentence.......If I could have one Christmas wish it would be........
To have my family all together on Christmas Day.

The 12 lovely bloggers I've tagged.

Elizabeth at My Glad Heart
Claudia at Claudia Persi
Angel at Sew Crafty Angel
Jazzy at Jazzygal
Emma at Emma Dilemma
Jill at Jillie Side Up


Thanks again to Andrea for tagging me as I have enjoyed this post. I understand that it can be time consuming so if you just want to leave a comment below that would be great. 

Have a good day.



Wednesday, 1 January 2014

happy new year


Wishing you all a prosperous, blissful, healthy, bright, delightful, energetic, and extremely happy, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

In the words of Walt Disney, 'All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them'. 


Friday, 27 December 2013

a homemade, healthy muesli

I woke up this morning feeling slightly worse for wear, having eaten far too much over the last couple of days! I needed to eat something a little lighter for breakfast so I tucked into this delicious muesli. I made it a couple of days ago and it is full of Christmas flavours. It's so easy and quick to make and it tastes yummy!

Ingredients
400g porridge oats
75g unsweetened dessicated coconut
100g skinned hazlenuts
100g skinned Brazil nuts, roughly chopped
100g soft light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon or mixed spice
1 tsp ginger
180ml water
120ml groundnut oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
75g pitted dates, roughly chopped
75g dried apricots, roughly chopped
75g dried cranberries
50g crystallised ginger, finely chopped 

1. Preheat the oven to 170C/Gas Mark 3. Mix together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir well.
2. Whisk the water, oil, vanilla and salt together and then stir in the dry ingredients.
3. Spread the mixture out in two, large shallow roasting trays. Roast in the oven for 20-30 minutes, stirring and swapping the trays occasionally, until the muesli is golden and crisp, checking frequently towards the end. Leave to cool.
4. Stir in the dried fruit and crystallised ginger. Store in an airtight container.
Makes about 1.3kg

It makes such a lovely breakfast. I had mine with milk but I'm sure it will taste great with Greek yoghurt too. 

Enjoy! I hope you have all enjoyed a very Merry Christmas!

Recipe taken from 'Christmas with Gordon'.


Wednesday, 18 December 2013

cape at christmas in broadway

Broadway. The Jewel of the Cotswolds! That is how some people refer to this beautiful village and I agree. A charming, magical place which holds a special place in my heart. I always get quite emotional when I visit here as it is still unspoilt and very beautiful. A piece of paradise.

Broadway dates back as far as the Roman times and at one time boasted thirty three public houses which there are still signs of today. Many of the limestone buildings date from the 16th century. The front doors of these lovely houses are just delightful in themselves.

This has to be my favourite row of houses in the village. Can you imagine living in one of these? 



We came across this guy driving an Austin 7 racing car that he was restoring. He looked like he would have been at home in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'! He posed for us and we gladly took a photo of him as he said he didn't have any photos of him in his pride and joy! Then off he went with a cheery adieu in his German accent!
I wore my much loved cape for this trip. I have a real love for capes and own quite a few in different colours! I wore it with a soft, comfy pink sweater and jeans and my Zara scarf. I spotted the booties when I was out shopping with my daughter. We both fell in love with them so we both bought a pair!




We stayed all day browsing round the village and quaint, little shops. I wanted to see the Christmas lights before I went home and I'm so glad I did; just beautiful. 

Have a lovely Wednesday.

Zara cape - last seen here
Topshop jeans - last seen here
Zara scarf - wardrobe
Primark booties
H&M satchel
Primark sunnies - wardrobe


Monday, 2 December 2013

make the most of december - bucket list

(Click on image to download the printable)

It feels good to be up and running again after being ill for quite a while. That is why I have been quiet lately, I have been stuck in bed feeling very yucky! I've missed you all and hope to catch up with you and your lovely blogs very soon. 

It's time for the countdown to the big day! Who is like me and enjoys having an Advent calendar? I'm like a big kid and get so excited opening the window each day! I love this time of year, pretty lights, present wrapping, cheesy Christmas music, Christmas meals and yummy delights to eat! 

As you can see, my bucket list is looking very Christmassy! I'm really looking forward to all the plans I have for this month. On my November bucket list I had planned to go away for the weekend but we had car trouble so didn't end up going. But we are making up for it and going away this month for a couple of days instead, which I'm really looking forward to. 

What plans do you have for the festive season?