It was a very white Christmas with my Dad on Sunday, complete with snowball fights and a snowman. And the search for the perfect black brogue is over. My Dad bought me these while he was in LA a few weeks ago and I love them. They’re my new favourites.
Thank you Papa and Dee for a lovely day and awesome presents. We hope you both have the happiest of Christmas’ and most brilliant of New Years xx
It's been a crazy week.
This weekend the festive fun really began when some of our most favourite people came and stayed for the weekend. We mostly sat around eating and drinking and catching up but did also squeeze in some shopping in the Christmas markets. The laughter was plentiful. We also briefly met up with my grandparents and exchanged some presents. Very lovely indeed.
So now the busy times really begin. This week I have another work Christmas meal, my work Christmas party and our little Christmas dinner with our best friends. Then on Sunday it’s our Christmas Day with my Dad. Turkey with all the trimmings, Christmas presents and board games. The whole schbang.
Side Note: the only good thing about having divorced parents? Two Christmas Day’s and two birthdays. It’s definitely a bonus.
ps. today I ordered the camera. The saving paid off and it’s on it’s way to it’s new home with us. These are my last photos with a dying camera. Rest in Peace little Kodak. You served us well.
This week has been both good (Christmas decorating and seeing my Dad’s play) and bad. On Tuesday I tripped up our front door step and busted the knee I dislocated a few years ago. The nurse (yup, I had to see a nurse) gave me a whole bunch of ice packs, bandaged it up for support and told me to rest for 2 days. It’s still feeling pretty crappy but no way was I missing my Christmas meal today so I headed back to work. And it was totally worth it.
So this week, I’m doing something a little different to my usual Friday’s Things to Smile About. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about 2011 and what it might hold. I’ve been inspired by the oh-so-cool Elsie over at A Beautiful Mess and her 28 before 29 birthday list, so have written a list of everything I’d like to try and achieve over the next year. My 10 for 2011. I figure that if I write a nice long list I’m bound to achieve a couple.
Some of these will be easy. Some will take a bit more work (or guts, when it comes to the haircut). But I like to have something to aim for.
Our living room is now bursting with Christmas goodness. The paper chains are up, some impressive snowflakes have been made and the Christmas tree is glistening in the corner with plenty of presents stacked underneath it. I’m so excited I can barely keep by bottom on the chair as I type.
The weekend was a manic one (as per my list last week) but I got everything done that I hoped to. The quilt got finished and given to my best friend as a surprise at her baby shower on Sunday and she loved it. Annoyingly though it was such a close call getting it finished I forgot to take a picture. I’ll have to get Em to take some and send them over.
Luckily the print deadline for business-related things has been moved so the logo doesn’t have to be done until the end of the week. This is good as I am a fussy little bunny and my sis hasn’t quite finished it. The next couple of days involve lots of knitting and tidying up, but it all seems pretty achievable now. What a relief.
Umm, how is it Friday already? Crazy times.
Things to smile about this week:
1. Decorating our house for Christmas this weekend. I’ll post some pictures next week of our vintage decorations. They were a genius find on eBay about 3 years ago. Tomorrow we’re putting up the paper chains (a tricky task when your ceilings are about 10 feet tall) so tonight I’m getting busy with the paper cutter and stapler. Bring it on.
2. My vintage tablecloth. B hates it. I love it. But if everyone thought the same, the world would be pretty boring. As a compromise I’ve told B that I’ll only use it when he’s not in the house. Yeah right.
3. Talking with my nephews on the phone this afternoon. Tyler told me that he went ice skating today and that he was doing a solo song and dance in his nativity play next week. I know for certain these are rather major exaggerations of the truth, but I’m loving his story telling skills. Coby got over excited telling me about his walk in the snow and eating the chocolates from his advent calendar.
4. This little wooden box from a charity shop. I also scored another amazing find, but that’s for a certain boy for Christmas so will remain a secret for now.
5. There’s only 11 more days to go until I can finally order my new camera. A Canon 500D. I’m too friggin’ excited.
Sometimes I have things that I keep meaning to do, but just never seem to get ticked of the list (oh, how I love a good list). One of them is printing our photos and putting them in albums. I did it about 18 months ago and ne'er was it done again.
Today is a special day for two reasons.
Firstly, this is my 100th post. I can’t believe I’m at this milestone already with this little blog. I’ve loved every minute of blogging so far and the opportunity it’s given to meet some awesome people from all over the world. Thank you to everyone who follows our adventures and leaves comments too. It’s thrilling to see a new message and I always appreciate your kind and funny words so much.
Secondly, today is mine and B’s sixth month wedding anniversary. I can’t believe how quickly the time has past and how completely awesome these months have been. Being married to that boy is the most amazing thing and I love being his wife more every day. I love you so much beautiful husband of mine xx
This is one of my favourite wedding finds. Our original 1950s American cake topper that I tracked down on eBay. It was a total steal and is just the prettiest thing. It sat on our simple wedding cake and now stands very proudly indeed on our bookshelf.
Things to smile about this week: 1. These lovely, old-fashioned Christmas tree decorations that I bought in the most awesome sweet shop ever. My family all come to our house on Christmas morning and our nephews will love having a Christmas tree treasure hunt with these little ones.
2. The snow. It’s completely freezing here this week and we woke up this morning to a little blizzard and a white covering over everything.
3. Finishing my Christmas shopping. That’s right people. I’m always pretty organised but I’ve never completed it all before December. And with three exceptions I’ve stuck to my vow to either buy from charity shops or local independent stores or to make presents myself. I think it’s the way forward and I’ll definitely be sticking to this next year.
4. Seeing my nephew Ty in town when I was walking home at lunchtime yesterday. He had just been on his first school trip to the theatre and was walking along, hand in hand with his little buddie, with all his school mates and teachers. I chatted to him as they walked and when I said goodbye Ty and all his friends waved and shouted bye very loudly. Cutest. Thing. Ever.
5. 4 weeks today it’s Christmas Day. It’ll be the start of our 11 day holiday from work, Father Christmas will have delivered lots of lovely presents and the house will be packed with the yummiest of food. Heaven.
I’m a girl who loves her crafts. This is a well-known fact. But there’s one thing I wish I could do and that’s draw. I’ve recently developed a passion for illustrations and I’ve maybe spent a little too long scrolling through Etsy looking at some awesome prints. My current favourite has got to be Pop Pop Portraits.Husband dearest if you’re reading this, your wife thinks that a couple’s portrait by the seriously talented Helena would be the most perfect first anniversary gift. Plus it goes rather well with the tradition of receiving paper, don’t you think? I’m letting you know now so you have some time to save the pennies.
Luckily for me, creative juices run throughout my whole family and my sister is one talented sista. These are some of her drawings. They decorated my hen party invites, our cake table notice and of course our wedding invitations. Which were just so so cool. I’ve asked her to draw me something for my Christmas present and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with. Having more artwork around our house is one of my aims for next year. More of which to come next week.
ps. Happy Thanksgiving to all the Yanks out there, including my Papa who’s currently in LA. I hope you all had a lovely lovely day x
