No nutcracker

Thanks so much for all your well wishes for my poor old husband trapped on a train for over 12 hours, he made it safely back home at 1.30 pm this afternoon.

But away from the chaos, I have had a lovely day. We got the coveted window seat in our favourite cafe as not many people had made the journey into town, had lovely warming meals and frothy cappuccinos, later we drank hot chocolate and shared a brownie before heading back out. With all the snow falling we embraced the season and did some christmas shopping then struggled home with our bags full of gift wrap and my best purchase of the day, a huge net of shiny mixed nuts in their shells. Slight problem. No nutcracker in the house.

Now the snow is really coming down but it looks perfect for a evening winter walk, I love the silence that the snow provides, so we are going to get out there to take advantage of our very own Narnia. While the snow is untouched. Stay safe x

Snow days

So I was going to move over to my new blog today, but with a husband missing for 14 hours trapped on a train in the snow in some far away town, we will all have to wait a few more days for the final tweaks to be completed. At least he is with a whole train full of people, may have even made some new friends? I do love to look at the snow but now I jus want him home. I have been house bound for a couple of days now so I will brave the outside to meet a friend and have a nice hot drink and a piece of cake in a nearby cafe whilst I await my favourite persons return. I hope you are all okay wherever you live x

Outdoors indoors

The things that made up my weekend.

A decent meal

One of my favourite things about being at home so much is eating three proper meals a day. No more hastily grabbed snacks like greasy sausage rolls or cardboard tasting sandwiches that are laced with too much mayonnaise and cheap margarine. My fridge is also a happier place now that the greenery gets eaten before it wilts, and I get to see my husband for lunch too. An hour of daylight spent slowing down and spending some time eating home cooked meals at the table without our laptops is a simple luxury.

I am leaving for London now, excited to be meeting some other creative girls, we so often speak via email and twitter but rarely find the time to gather in one place, so it will be a treat to put the faces to the names I know so well.

Super strong winds and heavy rain

I concur, super strong winds and heavy rain battering my windows and I HAVE to go out there! Oh why! Thought I would start the day with a way more cheerful image than the fate that befalls me outside my front door. Hope you are snuggled and cosy at home without a reason to leave the house today.

Give away winners will be announced later today x

Leave work early

If you are ready for something tranquil and uplifting to calm you before all the bonfire night madness and the weekend I suggest you head over to read issue 3 of Unicorn Dream Magazine.

Right, I will stop bombarding you now as I am heading out to buy more paper price tags for the clothes I am selling at a posh jumble sale tomorrow in Hastings Old Town and then meeting some friends for lunch. Plus I have a whole bunch of errands that have built up while I have been hawking round the internet for wallpaper.

Have a fun afternoon, leave work early, meet a friend or enjoy a peaceful coffee before chaos arrives back in your life.

Bye x

Paper me pretty

As you may have gathered, I am on a quest for two or three wallpapers, which will be used on the back wall of my kitchen. A very important decision as it will be heavily featured in my blog and shop listings and it is the most photographed corner of my home with the best natural lighting.

Thanks so much to those of you who commented with their suggestions so far. There are some amazing patterns available. The first round of outstanding contenders comes from Anthropologie. At this rate I may have to paper myself a feature house? I'll take a roll of each please!

Out with me

Hey there, hows your week going so far? Just wondering if you want to come on a virtual night out with me? I will behave I promise. Huge thanks to Kate of Coquette and Dove for featuring me. xxx

Everyday favourite

I am lucky to have many pretty thing in my home. But my unlikely everyday favourite is still this battered old table. These are just three scenes from the life of that table today. Miscellaneous items, lunch and afternoon coffee with a side of scrap book. What's on your table top?

Today things

My new (old) camera, hope to have some pictures soon.

It is dark, dreary and cold out, perfect excuse to stay indoors, spruce the notice board and then use these super cute marzipan fruits for a batch of Autumn cupcakes.

Perishables.

A perfect start for curbing winter chills this October was taking part in my sister Tamzin's cookie exchange. I was so excited when I received a box labelled perishables and opened it to find the delicious parcel from Alissa containing layers of chocolate, hazelnut and lemon biscuits. Plenty to share with friends and family and even enough left over to brighten a rubbish day at work. I wonder if they will actually miss me or just the baked goods when I leave?

Thank you again Alissa for such a s scrumptious gift.

Sweet things

Morning, I am sorry for the silence, but I have been enjoying the season, baking a wedding cake and lots of other sweet things, will be back later with more pictures. I hope you had a lovely weekend.

Fallen leaves

Happy Sunday. I am off to collect pine cones and fallen leaves.

A spot of lunch

Just preparing lunch before I brave the outside world, a world which today is filled with plumes of smoke from the remains of our smouldering Pier after some swines set it alight last night. I need to find an outfit that won't mind soaking up the miserable smoke and ash. Meanwhile as I muster the will to leave, I am cheering myself up with a 1920's film day, a tonne of sequinned headdresses and feathers and flower garlands to lift my dampened spirits.

I thought I would also share a picture of my living room as it looks this morning, the swan it seems has been to busy to tidy. But I've not been idling, I spent the morning listing a final few sets of photographs in my Etsy shop. and the lounge will be ship shape later.

All my favourite colours.

A hearty cup of spiced chicken and bean soup was the helping hand I needed to start an Autumn pom pom garland and embroidering some new cushions last week.

Early Autumn berries

Bright morning light, warmed soup in the evenings, early Autumn berries and cosy corners.

I hope you have a happy weekend.

Botanical prints

I have been asked a few times where I got the pretty rose prints in my lounge. They were the pages of an old book of the Botanical Prints of Pierre-Joseph Redouté. After visiting the V&A yesterday I was browsing their online shop and found their beautiful collection of posters and prints. They have lots (not exactly the same), but of other beautiful fruits, flowers and birds.

Oh just one more unrelated thing I loved from the shop and then I promise to let you discover the rest for yourself! These oh so sweet finger pincushions. For keeping your pins safe and close by.

Lost and found

My husband just had an old forgotten camera film developed and I was delighted with some of the shots that were on the film.

Fashion pilgrimage

Up early so I can catch the really good sun, the sun that makes my diamante sandals sparkle as I walk, the sun that inspires me to have a 1950's style breakfast, the perfect sky to accompany me to the newspaper shop on a Sunday morning fashion pilgrimage.