The day after the day after...

Hi Ladies
This last week has been all about the preparation for the big day so not so much time available for chatting! So, now, the day after the day after, is all about relaxing & I'm loving every second :) I have tea, movies & sweeties & very snuggly blanket for the sofa.
Last week we went on our Seasonal Harrods trip in the snow. It was a truly fabulous day, we laughed from the moment we met up to the moment I dropped Supersis back at home 12 hours later! Starbucks on Kings Road & sushi in Harvey Nichols, all perfectly fabulous & the clothes......ahhhhhhhhh, perfectly fabulous :)
Christmas Day was a great day full of fun with my fabulous family & thanks to my Supersis, dinner actually made it to the table. Dishing up dinner for 7 in my rediculous kitchen was harder than I had imagined but Supersis came to the rescue with her amazing kitchen calmness & saved the day :) Tiny, of course, was adorable & we danced & danced after dinner until her face turned a little green & she said "Teeto, you nearly made me sick". I was so so glad of the words rather than being on my hands & knees picking out little bits of roast beef & yorkshires from the leather rug!!
So, after all the fun & washing up comes these 2 beautiful days (change the number of days according to your work schedule) of peace & relaxation. Back to back movies, plenty of time for magazines, a late shower & any kind of food we fancy without any awareness of nutritional value. I've drunk more tea then you're probably supposed to in one day & later I'm thinking gin & tonic in my new 'old lady gin glass' (thank you Santa). What a lovely way to spend a Monday!
I have about a million new designs in my head so time to go & find a sketch book & pencil. Enjoy however you spend these lovely days of peace!
More soon
Victoria xxx

Snowy days

Hi Ladies
We thought we had finally broken free from the snow! Oh well, fingers crossed for it to melt away quickly!
I am making the most of a solitary starbucks with a pad and pen...... I am surprisingly organised this year so presents are nearly all done and plans for outings over the Christmas break are taking shape!

I have gone through my Christmas cookbooks with post-it notes and feel satisfied with my choices! Certainly no time to be calorie counting!!!
I'm still deciding whether or not to go for the traditional fruit stacked Christmas cake or to go for all out chocolate lusciousness?! Big decision, but I think I know which will win and which certainly goes better with a glass of milk....When it comes to chocolate I'm happy to break tradition!!!
All the decorations are up and twinkly lights cover 'nearly' every available space - just makes me feel fabulous when I walk in.....Christmas makes you feel just great doesn't it?

Some people like to have everything matching and some like to be random.. I myself like to have matching decorations on my tree... Although slowly as the little one has an input its becoming more and more random!! But that's part of Christmas isn't it?!

Paper chain making is big in our house this year, with all the snow we've just had it definitely filled a gap when we were stuck indoors!
Cutting snowflakes from paper, is something we are yet to master, little ones with scissors can be particularly hazardous but mine did have a go at 'shearing' paper and I am yet to see a snowflake!!! I think i feel a night in front of a movie coming along with a pair of scissors and a stack of white paper..... As if by magic - snowflakes appear overnight!!!!!

Writing cards for nursery chums is lovely quiet time and she loved putting them in the greatly over sized home-made post box at nursery!! I'm super excited about her Christmas concert yesterday at the end of term, lots of proud family went, was a definite a tissue moment!!!
I have treated my mitts to a tube of Elizabeth Arden eight hour hand treatment... So luxurious and they feel silkier than ever. Snowballs might be fun but when my gloves got wet and the ice set in boy were my hands in need if some tlc!! I spotted the body cream too so I'm hoping I've been good enough for Santa to bring it me this year ;)
Seasonal Harrods trip on Monday, please be kind to us Mother Nature :)
More soon
Ally xx

Magic of Christmas Disney

I have just about thawed out now from our very wintry, yet completely magical, trip to Disneyland Paris. This was our second trip and although I do prefer the sunnier, much warmer days in Orlando, for a Disney fix it was fantastic!!
We set off on the Eurostar for our 2 hour journey armed with magazines, games and treats to amuse little lady!! Straight off the train and into the park could not be easier.

Walking up Main street and seeing the castle makes me dream of being a Princess!! It's festive, bustling and magical!! 'Snow' falls and Christmas music plays and the smell of freshly baked cookies fills the air!
The parks were really crowded over the weekend but we made the most of the shows and parades ..... Mickey Brioche and a hot chocolate was the perfect winter warmer!
We stayed at Hotel Cheyenne, with amazing attention to detail on the theming, from decor inside and out to costumes and music. It was perfectly cosy and such a short walk to the parks and restaurants was a bonus when my feet had had enough!!

I bought myself a pair of SnowJoggers www.snowjoggers.org for the trip... Snugly toots for me in the snow!!

We had he most wonderful trip, tiny smiled non stop for 5 days! We were practically ice sculptures by the time we got into Santa's grotto but it was totally worth every second of chill. Tiny sat with Santa & told him what was on her Christmas list......A moment to be treasured.


We came home and busied ourselves with decorating. All the decorations were up & ready for the first day of advent...
I'm now writing a list for the Christmas food shop and will be soon putting my order in at the butchers..... I am super excited to be cooking my niece her first Christmas dinner this year too!
I treasure my time in the kitchen over Christmas - solitary time to make sweet treats or prepare vegetables, I'm not fussy what I'm doing as long as the carols are playing and the wine is chilled!!

Coming soon.....seasonal recipes & decorating :)


Let's all get ready for Santa!!!
Big hugs
Ally xxx

Christmas decorations & shopping

Hi Ladies
This weekend has been taken up with lots of organising & decorating! I finally convinced H that I needed to get decorating. Poor love, I even played Christmas music while I was being the decorating elf but I think the beer I poured him helped!
So now the house feels like Christmas, I'm all ready for shopping & dinner planning. I got completely distracted online yesterday but some amazing red paper balls & bells which look so fabulous in a big cluster (picture at top). I haven't really got space for them this year but I'll be planning ahead for next year! They start at £1.50 & you can find them at www.re-foundobjects.com & click on gREetings, so fabulous.

I'm thinking that you're all as happy as we are that the snow has gone, I'm sure I've never seen that much in my lifetime. It was so deep it went over the top of Tiny's wellies! The nasty weather completely upset our fabulous shopping evening plans. Rather than cancel, we decided to postpone & we now have a new date to shop ~ Monday 13 December ~ 630-10pm ~ The Star Cafe, Partridge Green. Its a good job we did postpone, Mark at the Cafe said he couldn't open on the Thursday & there was no grit on the roads over there so it just wouldn't have been safe. So ladies, next Monday is the day, all other details exactly the same except that we're a lot closer to the big day! I'm sure you'll find some gorgeous gifts for all your ladies!

With all the Christmas parties & work parties going on there's a lot of wardrobe planning to do. Don't forget that I can alter clothes that are not fitting properly or customise something you thought had seen better days, adding beads or sequins can liven up everything! Also we have fabulous clutch bags & fabric flower brooches in our boutique www.seasonalsisters.com/boutique ~ the brooches can be pinned onto almost anything, including handbags, hairbands, wristbands & jackets & coats.
OK, lots to do & plan..........happy Christmas preparation!
Victoria xx