Time for school

Hi Ladies

This is a very special week for us Seasonals, it's Tiny's first day at school on Friday & it's all getting a bit emotional! Tiny's so ready for school & her Mum is ready too but it will be so weird to not have her around all the time. We've been busy buying uniform, school shoes (patent for less scuffing) & stationery (I love buying stationery), lunch boxes & pencil cases. How on earth did she get to be 4 so quickly?

Really what I wanted to say today is HURRAY for all you parents who do such a great job bringing up your children, getting them ready for the next stages in their lives.

This first day will be a huge step for Tiny (& her Mum) but I'm sure she will love her first day & so look forward to next week & all the fabulously fun things you do in school.

So with a big box of tissues nearby we wish Tiny & all the newbies a great time on their first days & weeks of 'big' school & I wish my Supersis a most deserved break with a lovely cup of Starbucks (love you lots).

OMG, it'll soon be time for the nativity......someone order some more tissues!

More soon

Victoria xxx

A fresh start......

Hi Ladies

This morning as the kettle was boiling very early, I opened the back door & sat out on the garden bench. There was that definite end of Summer, change of air feeling, the feeling that it's nearly time to go back to school! The sun was warm but there was a very slight chill. Thank goodness I don't have to think about school anymore but I still enjoy buying stationery :) Pop up pencils actually make me happy!

Tiny is just about to start her first school. She is so ready to learn & her Mum is ready for some of the day to herself again!

This last Bank Holiday of the year & the going back to school chill in the air makes me think about visiting Paulina again. (Yes, I know I'm very spoilt & I've only just got back but this time H is coming too & we're having a holiday).

So, thinking about packing again, I've been completely inspired (as usual) by the catwalk reports in the September issues of Vogue & Harpers Bazaar & this season I'll be revisiting an old favourite ~ the long skirt (perfect for travelling in). It's awakening my inner art student all over again. Vanessa Coyle's Luxe Grunge page in Editor's picks in Harpers perfectly shows how we can go back to our freer, college days of dressing but in a much more luxurious way. Grown up art students! All this fashion makes me want to visit Harrods (the mothership) with my Supersis. We were planning a visit during the summer but now I'm thinking our Christmas (yes, I'm sorry, I said the C word) visit will be the next one. My favourite day of the year ~ shopping, sushi, Starbucks & my Supersis :)

Well, this fabulous Bank Holiday Monday is for new patterns, cups of tea & James Bond on the tv & more Harpers time in the ad breaks. Hurray for this day to stop for a minute or two!

Oh, one last thing, if you do get to stop a minute for reading, check out Isabel Losada's books. Think 'self help by a real human' who has a great sense of humour. I have finished & passed on 'The Battersea Park Road to Enlightenment' & now I'm on to 'Paradise' & I love them both. Funny, honest & genuinely interesting ~ they're on all the good book websites ~ go on treat yourself!

Follow her on twitter @IsabelLosada, me @SeasonalSisters & Ally @HappyA28

OK, back to my new patterns & tea ~ seasonal slippers coming soon.....

Enjoy your day off.

More soon

Victoria xx

An English Girl in LA

Hi Ladies
The last few weeks have been so very fabulous. I actually got on a plane & went all the way to LA to deliver my 'Paulina' purses to Costella & Donola boutique on Melrose Avenue. Can you believe it???

I had a proper adventure travelling alone via Amsterdam, watching movies, reading, soaking up the experience. After the long journey my fabulous friend Paulina was at LAX to meet me & take me home to her house where I stayed for the few days. As well as the amazing trip to the boutique, we shopped, had lunch & had loads of time for chatting, it really was a fabulous weekend :)

So now my purses are sitting in a beautiful boutique on Melrose. Isabelle Donola (boutique owner) is, of course, fabulous & she has amazing plans for her boutique. I am so happy to be part of the fabulousness.
The very best part of all this is I get to be doing my most favourite thing in all the world....sewing. Oprah once said "find a job you love & you'll never work a day in your life" She is so right, I love to sew & have found myself beading late into the night because I'm so engrossed in what I'm doing....I love it.
Speaking of finding your passion in life, my fabulous friend Paulina (the real lady, not the purse) has just published her first children's book 'Puppy's Party'. She has been writing & illustrating a series of books called 'The Evanator Stories' inspired by her son Evan. I just love these stories, they are so fun & the illustrations are so great. You can buy the first book online from ~ www.lulu.com/product/paperback/puppys-party/16429936
Hurray for finding our passions :)

I really want to thank my amazing family & friends for all your support & your excitement for my amazing adventure. Also a massive thank you to my Husband for being with me on this crazy ride! You rule!
I can't leave this today without saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY to two very fabulous ladies ~ my Mum & Paulina :)

More soon

Victoria xx

Big News & Amazing Women!

Hi Ladies

Today has been a lovely day shopping for some beautiful beads & fabric for my new collection. I am very excited to share that this collection is for the beautiful boutique ~ Costella and Donola, Melrose Avenue, WEST HOLLYWOOD!!!!!! www.costellaanddonola.com

I've spent the last week trying to wrap my head around the excitement of it all & trying to work out colours & styles. I've decided on two different versions of the 'Paulina'. She's my absolute favourite & it's time to give her an update. 'Paulina' is all about the texture & the sparkle & what better place on earth for sparkle than Melrose Avenue?? I've decided on the other pieces but I'll wait & post pictures when I'm done if that's ok?

On my travels for gorgeous beads this morning I found the most beautiful bead shop, The Big Bead Boutique www.bigbeadboutique.co.uk Joanne is really lovely & she has a truly beautiful selection of beads in the most fabulous boutique. I know for sure that you'll find a gift for all your girliest girlfriends in there. She's just tucked round the corner from the main shopping area outside Churchill Square, Brighton ~ well worth a visit. (check out her website for a map)

This weekend was Tiny's 4th birthday (can you believe it???) & her Princess & Pirate party was so much fun. Once I got used to the noise level, it was so fun watching Tiny & all her friends playing.

Saturday was also a catch up day with two friends I haven't seen for years. It was so great to catch up with lovely ladies. We all apologised to each other for not keeping in touch but decided that actually it's lovely knowing that even if we don't manage to see each other as regularly as we'd like, we know where we are if we need each other. Weeks & months fly by & we're all so busy with whatever keeps us busy but it was so great catching up that I want to make it my mission to try harder to keep up with my friends :) I love you all & I'm very lucky to have you all in my life!

More soon

Victoria xxx

Traditions

Hi Ladies

This morning while I was sewing the last few hand stitches on my new hand luggage bag, I was thinking about traditions how we all make our own traditions in our own little families. My hand luggage bag for example, every year I make myself a new one even though last year's is perfectly OK & will hold everything I need to take on my travels. I was thinking about the pizza I'll buy the night before we travel & how I'll worry all the way to the airport that I've forgotten my passport even though I've checked my bag a million times. The last minute diet, endless lists, fake tan, shopping for new nail varnishes, realising we didn't learn any more Spanish in the whole year even though we promised ourselves we'd be fluent by now.....

This year I have a new way to pack my bag though, a new tradition starting now thanks to Helen at Style Step www.stylestep.co.uk She helped me understand 'my' colours & so now I know how to make my skin look better even before the tan develops :) She helped me with what styles of jewellery work best & all the little details that making packing easier. The words 'capsule wardrobe' used to distress my very being but I have learned that less pieces that work well together & most importantly, make me feel good, save me alot of money in excess baggage! Who's Husband wouldn't agree with that???

Helen has been running small group workshops from her amazing studio in Partridge Green. What a lovely way to spend an evening, learning how to make ourselves look fabulous & all for only £25!

Once we understand the best styles & shapes for us, the next step is to clear out the wardrobe of all those colours & shapes that no longer work. I have been cloning some of my favourites...making copies of trousers that fit well in different fabrics, copies of skirts I love. My favourite place for fun fabric shopping is Fabricland in Brighton. At this time of year it is literally bursting with fabulous summery fabrics. Everything you can imagine including a beautiful floaty print for my new kimono. I literally lose hours in that shop & if I have any questions I find Scarlet, she just lovely & super helpful. Have a look at their website http://www.fabricland.co.uk/ but nothing beats a visit.

Don't forget that most of your clothes can be altered, mended or customised to make it work for you. I'm always happy to chat about any changes you'd like to make. Everything from taking up a hem on a pair of jeans to completely changing an outfit or remaking an old favourite.

One of my favourite traditions started this time last year. I read in my Elle magazine while lying on the beach about a beauty editor (I still haven't looked for her name to give her a shout out) who took advice from a model friend for making her skin super sexy & silky. She used a body moisturiser & then a layer of body oil. She listed lots of very expensive products but I'm happy to report that it works on any budget...for the last year I've been using all kinds of body lotions (whichever were on special offer at the time) with a supermarket baby oil & the effects are amazing. Lovely soft skin. The other great thing about it is the lovely sheen you get on tanned shoulders when all dressed up for a holiday/Summer evening out.

Right, it's time to refresh all my holiday whites with a blast of Vanish...works so well!

Please let us know about all your traditions, holidays or otherwise. We'll be adding a Summer page to our website very soon & would love to quote you on summer/holidays tips & traditions.

More soon...we'll be back in a couple of weeks with lots of summer recipes, cute new pieces for EVieB at Seasonal Sisters & plenty of new fabulous summer handbags.

Hurray for Summer!

Victoria xxx

PANCAKE DAY :)

Hi Ladies

Well the day is here when we all pray we can flip the perfect pancake and it will land in the pan and not stick to the ceiling! I myself have yet to master the art of perfect flipping, but this year I'm confident I will succeed!

In my house there is a complete division of sweet and savoury and this year, We have a mini frying pan for mini people for mini flipping....... Her apron is ready!!! Very exciting!

My favourite pancake recipe is Nigella's fool proof recipe:~

FOR THE PANCAKE MIX (to be mixed up & left in a jar in the cupboard so you're ready for every pancake craving):

•600g flour
•3 x 15ml tablespoons baking powder
•2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
•1 teaspoon salt
•40g vanilla or caster sugar

TO MAKE THE BATTER AND THE PANCAKES:

* For each 150g pancake mix, add and whisk together:
* 1 egg
* 250ml semi-skimmed or full-fat milk
* 1 x 15ml tablespoon melted butter
(plus the ready mixed dry ingredients)

When ready to make the pancakes, proceed as follows:
* Heat a flat griddle or pan with no oil.
* Spoon drops of 1 & half ~ 2 tablespoons of batter onto the hot griddle or into the pan and, when bubbles appear on the surface of the little pancakes, flip them over to make them golden brown on both sides. A minute or so a side should do it.
(Makes 15 pancakes)


Our first one is always the 'test' one and ends up in the bin but it does make the pan better for the many to come!!

As for toppings ~ there are hundreds!!

SWEET
Lemon and Sugar
Maple syrup
Honey
Cinnamon sugar
Nutella
Raspberries or strawberries blitzes with a spoonful icing sugar for pouring or dipping
A handful of Blueberries with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup
Stewed apples with cinnamon and a drizzle of cream!
Peanut butter
Banana and Squirty cream

SAVOURY

Mushroom and spinach, fry the mushrooms and a handful of spinach and seasoning - sprinkle with cheese once in pancake and roll!
Cheese and onion
Ham and cheese
Smoked salmon and cream cheese

The list is endless!! Preparation is the key, have all your fillings ready, do all your chopping, slicing and mashing before making the pancakes leaving no room for error!

Happy flipping people..... I wonder this year if I manage to stop when my tummy says.... Probably not!!!!

Ally xxx

LOVE

Hi Ladies

Today is Valentine's Day & I wanted to share a little love!

Last week I was chatting to a lovely lady I have got to know recently about Valentine's Day, she asked me if we had any plans for the day. I told her we always cook together on Valentine's, we stay in to avoid the 'cheese' of the day. Then she said something that has stayed with me all weekend, "I LOVE THE CHEESE". I LOVE that she said that.
Its not like I hide the love, far from it, we cook together we buy cards & cute little gifts, we definitely feel the love.....but today I want to jump on the Valentine train & stay on it. What's wrong with the cheese? Why not shout it from the rooftops? Maybe a little cheese is the answer!

Life should be all about love. Love for people & love for what we do. Shouldn't we all be actively trying to fill our lives with more of what we love? Why wouldn't we do that??
I love how we can make any day more lovely just by adding little bits of joy. For me it could be a pot of Harrods coffee & the glug noise the coffee machine makes when its start pouring into the glass jug, watching a movie I've seen a hundred times that still makes me smile, chatting with my beautiful niece who talks even more than I do, losing myself in fashion magazines, standing with my eyes closed with my face in the sun, morning tea with my Olds, walking & chatting with my Supersis, catching up with my fabulous friends, hearing the one ring of the phone to say H is on his way home.....the list is endless & that in itself makes me very happy.
This list is really what we're all about at Seasonal Sisters, we wanted to fill up our website with gifts, ideas, recipes, books, movies, fashion/sewing.... Lets all join in & make suggestions for joy....we'd love to hear from you.
This Spring we'll be adding more tips for making all our lives for fabulous & of course more gorgeous gifts in our boutique for when a gift is the way to share the love :)
So, let's make this Valentine's day the beginning of a full year...a lifetime of more love :)
'fill up your well'....
'get your freak on'....
'dance to the beat of your own drum'.....
'live well, laugh often, love much'...
share the love.......more soon,
Victoria xxx

The year of the Rabbit...

Hi Ladies
2011 Chinese New Year was 3rd Feb & this year is the year of the Rabbit. I am a Rabbit, my husband is a Rabbit & we were married in the year of the Rabbit, cool huh? Also, I LOVE rabbits (especially the one in the picture) but I've learnt that I'm not very good at looking after them & I worry about them being outside in the cold so I don't have one. Anyway, Happy New Year to all the animals!

I'm always a little ahead of myself at this time of year, I really expect that Winter should be over & if the sun is shining, it should be warmer. I've been wandering around the house in bare feet all weekend & even though the heating is on, its just not quite warm enough! This gets me ready for getting my flip flops out for the beginning of March. I know...I know it won't be warm enough but March 1st is when the air changes & everything starts to come alive again. Its my New Year!

So while we're waiting for the New Year we have Valentine's Day. I'll be making mini cakes in bright bright red with Betty Crocker chocolate icing. I tried the vanilla last time I made the cakes but I'm thinking H would much rather have the chocolate! Its the perfect cheat for cake making, its almost not worth the effort of making the icing when a whole pot (enough for approx 32 cupcakes) only costs around £2.50!

My other 'love' since my last blog has been the Paris Couture shows. Every year I'm blown away by the Dior Couture show, its always the most beautiful of all the shows in Paris. If you've got a spare half an hour, have a look at this link to the Dior site & the whole show www.diorcouture.com/uk/dior_uk I know you'll love it.
To catch up on all the Spring/Summer 11 collections, March (in magazine land, on sale now) is fashion heaven. I'm completely in love with the new elegant trouser, wide leg & high waisted, so so beautiful with very high heels. Harpers Bazaar, Vogue & Elle are the best magazines for details & ladies, this summer...its ALL about colour! Beautiful, strong colour in amazing styles. Colour is hard to get right so I have recently had a colour analysis with my lovely friend Helen at http://www.stylestep.co.uk/ I really thought I knew what colours were good for me until Helen gave me my new palette. I sat in her fabulous studio in front of the mirror with my clothes & hair covered & Helen held up so many beautifully coloured fabrics against my face. It took me a few minutes to 'get it' but once you do it's so exciting. I look younger & healthier when I wear the 'right' colours. It's amazing.
A colour analysis would make a fabulous gift for a Girlfriend, Sister, Mum, Auntie, who wouldn't want to look younger & healthier??? Give Helen a call...I know you'll love her too!

So February is all about re-reading Eat Pray Love (my favourite book ever!), watching my new favourite tv show 'The C Word' with the brilliant Laura Linney, losing myself in Harpers Bazaar, trying out new Mexican recipes, visiting the best Mexican shop in London http://www.casamexico.co.uk/ & trying to learn some more Spanish conversation ready for my hols.

So, lots to do.....more soon
Happy Valentine's Day ladies
Victoria xxx