Christmas Wish List

Thank you all for your lovely messages lately. We are fine and feeling very positive about the year ahead so I’m just looking forward to Christmas now and enjoying the festivities beforehand. Oh and we have a tree! It was touch and go but we decided on a small one to sit on my Nanna’s old table. You can’t beat a real tree.

So, back to business! I’ve been reading Christmas wish lists on blogs far and wide and was inspired to collate a few bits and bobs that make my heart go pop! Failing that, a Christmas with cosy evenings in, mulled wine, family & friends followed by some down-time in front of the telly is fine with me. In fact, it’s pretty much perfect.

1. ASOS Midi Maroon Dress with V neck ruched waist

2. Colour & Contrast Socks

3. Kate Bush 50 Words for Snow

4. Coco Mademoiselle EDT

5. Red Leather Satchel

6. Wuthering Heights Illustrated by Celia Birtwell

7. Rouge Coco Cambon Lipstick.

8. Stef Storey Constellation Porcelain Tea Light Holder

I’ve since been informed a certain Mr. has got me a copy of the above Wuthering Heights I’ve been coveting for so long. And from our local book shop too…joy!

♥

Made: Origami Star Christmas Cards

Here’s a sneak peek of my handmade Christmas cards for this year. I had a pretty awesome afternoon yesterday finishing them off whilst watching Pan Am, White Christmas and Young Victoria. I also had mini mince pies  – sweet!

I made the origami stars using pages from an old book featuring Winter flowers, plants and tress. Oh yes, I like to fold things.

Are you making your Christmas cards this year?

♥

Review: Hotel Chocolat

So, as I mentioned yesterday, the OH and I indulged ourselves, prior to his birthday, to a chocolate feast courtesy of Hotel Chocolat.

When I was asked to review something from their Christmas range I knew it would be hard to pick a product – seriously, how does a chocoholic choose? But I did, and I was swayed by these delightful Mini Christmas Crackers for their petit chicness!

There are 10 chocolates to a box (one in each cracker) made up of – Rhubarb Fool, Billionaire Shortbread, Berry Mousse, Cinnamon Praline and the Simple Milk Truffle.

The choice of flavours are a perfect accompaniment to the season; all luxurious and delightfully packaged in a mini cracker so you can savour each one. The Cinnamon Praline had to be my favourite – it delivered just the right amount of spice to accompany the praline and milk chocolate. Oh boy, was it good. To be honest there wasn’t one we didn’t like but it would have been even better if there were other choices than the five flavours. Perhaps some liqueurs to add to the mix, it is Christmas after all?

As they’re not just a box of chocolates, these luxurious chocolate treats could go a long way: use them as stylish table settings or perhaps to add to your Christmas tree? Another option would be to use the individual chocolates as stocking fillers, already packaged so nicely, no fuss! Alas, I wanted to test these babies out so we ate them, like any good sweet tooth would, in one setting.

The Mini Christmas Crackers are priced at £15 which, if buying as part of a dinner party or for stocking fillers, I think is very much worth it. I’m going to head over to the Christmas range once more, as I hear there’s a mulled wine chocolate in town…oh my.

♥

Disclosure – I was not paid to write this post but Hotel Chocolat did send me the chocolates to review.

Leeds Christmas Market and a fine weekend.

Happy Monday y’all, I hope the sun is shining wherever you may be. We went to the Leeds German Christmas Market this weekend to celebrate the OH’s birthday with his siblings. Sadly, it ended up only being a quick jaunt around the market, as there were ridiculous queues everywhere for mulled wine/beers. It was too cold to hang around so instead we all headed to a  less busy local bar for birthday cocktails – joy! We managed to take in some of the festive cheer though…

The rest of the weekend was made up of Lazy Sunday filter coffee, boiled egg and soldiers, working in the best place in town (and no, I wasn’t paid to say that!), The Burbs (love that film), sampling Hotel Chocolat delights with the OH (more on that later), making a very quick birthday badge for the OH (excuse the poor stitching!), reading blogs (my blogroll needs to be updated!), painting nails a lovely shade of pink and watching Monsters and Taken.

Today I’m spending the day with my lovely boyfriend (his actual birthday!). Happy Birthday Boo and many moooooore!

♥

Book Review: Celia Birtwell

 

When the Celia Birtwell book was handed to me by the postman, courtesy of Quadrille Craft, I was more than a little excited (I may have squealed at him – he thinks I’m crazy). Being the first book (long overdue) published on Celia,  I was curious to know more about the life and work of such an iconic British designer.

 

 

The book is hardback coffee table perfection, accompanied by sketches, artworks and personal photographs. But not only is the book a visual treat, it delivers such an inspirational kick, I wish I’d had the book years ago.

The book concentrates on the designers career span of over 50 years, from couture to home interiors and her collaboration with Topshop.  Rather than focusing on her personal life (relationship/partnership with Ossie Clark)  it is a biography that celebrates Celia’s work, ambition and inspirations.

The book makes a great gift for admirers of Celia’s work, design/fashion students or anyone with an interest in British Culture (holds hand up). The book has also persuaded me to buy this edition of  my favourite novel,Wuthering Heights, that she illustrated back in 2009. I must find a copy!

You can purchase the book from Amazon for £15.19.

Please note, I was sent this copy to review and was not paid for writing this post.

♥