Between Christmas and New Year...

I always find this time a little strange. After weeks of planning, the day arrives and suddenly it's all over, done, finished. Today OH and I had the day to ourselves, so what did we decide to do? We dug over three vegetable beds - festive huh? The first gift I opened on Christmas morning as a packet of parsnip seeds... call me silly but I was delighted!

Now I'm catching up on some blog reading (snooping at your Christmas gifts) and relaxing in front of the fire. I know that I'll feel the digging in my limbs tomorrow, so later I'll have a long soak in a hot bath before settling down to watch Great Expectations. Tomorrow we have the first of two more days with family.

But for now I'd just like to share with you my favourite gift. It's from OH. We were in an antique shop some weeks ago and I happened to mention in passing that something like this would be a wonderful thing to own ( I wasn't dropping hints, honestly!)

I love it, it's such a beautiful thing.

What do you do with the time between Christmas and New Year?

Love

A Christmas message...

Just a quick post to wish you all a very merry Christmas and joyous 2012.

I'll be back in the new year with a new wardrobe challenge, my 104 follower giveaway and my Christmas A-Z scavenger hunt pics (maybe I'll submit them on time, just this once) and lots of posts that I have had in 'draft' for an age. Seriously, where does the time go?

2011 has gone by in a flash. I moved house, worn everything in my wardrobe, got a tattoo,  wore it red for comic relief, I ran the race for life and made my peace with hosiery. Along the way I found some great blogs and blogger friends and discovered some fabulous beauty items and online shops whilst reading and enjoying your blogs.

I look forward to much more of the same in 2012.

Lots of love

I lost a follower and found five…

So, here I was about to write of my joy at reaching the 100 follower milestone when I noticed I'd taken a small step backwards - 99 followers. Oh.

A small mention of this in a post and five lovely, shiny new followers appeared.

HUGE love to Sophie for her tweet *mwah*. And hello to new followers d_flexe, Shayla, Beth, Kezzie and Fernytha *waves*, I hope you enjoy my blog.

As a thank you I'll be doing a follower giveaway in the new year, for my current 104 followers - I just need to get the chaos of Christmas out of the way, I thought I'd been so organised this year but there is still so much to do!

Love

Everybody, Everywear : Sequins and Sparkles

I love daytime sequins but I haven't indulged in sequins since the summer months. I really wanted to make a collar and smother it in sequins to wear with my current wardrobe crush - a plain black fitted jumper from H&M - but time conspired against me and the day arrived before I had a chance to find my sewing box! Luckily, my trusty sequin t-shirt was to hand.

Normally, this is worn when the sun shines so teaming it with winter clothes is new to me. I avoided the temptation to pair it with my favourite jeans but I had no choice but to layer it with two cardigans and a thick scarf as the temperature plummets.

I pinned a board of sequins for inspiration. I love how these ladies have taken sequins and paired them with different fabrics and layered them up for daytime wear.

Images via Pinterest

I have also developed a serious crush on sequin envelope bags, much like this one from Asos.

See all the other EBEW outfits here.

How do you wear your sequins?
Love

Inspiration Monday - Levin Rambin

I can't say I've heard of Levin Rambin but that doesn't stop me joining in with the Two Birds for Inspiration Monday.

Fearing the raging winds howling outside my window I decided to take this inside. I prefer outside outfit pics but I hate being buffered by the wind even more, so you'll have to make do with my door-less wardrobe instead. I'm rather hoping Father Christmas will pop a few doors in my stocking *crosses fingers*...

Tops H&M, Zara jeans, bag a gift

You can be sure that before venturing out I added a scarf, chunky knee length cardigan and gloves to this outfit. Layering is what I'm all about at the moment.

I'm a little disappointed, I was all set to do a 100 follower giveaway and then I lost a follower. I've had lost posters made up but, so far, no one has seen her...

Hope you're all keeping warm! Only 13 sleeps until Christmas...

e.l.f.

Lauren has introduced me to a few different beauty items* over the past few months but the best one has to be to e.l.f's eyelid primer... and, subsequently, the entire e.l.f range.

I wanted to try an eyelid primer as I had practically given up on eyeshadow altogether, so when I read about e.l.f's eyelid primer I was keen to try it. I have to admit the £1.50 price tag was the deciding factor. I'm fed up of spending money on products that I use only once or twice, when they fail to give the promised result.

Once on the site I decided to go for the Eyelid Primer Collection. I love the champagne shade and use this most days but for a completely natural look or as a base I wear the nude shade. I wouldn't use the pearl shade on my eyelids but would happily use this as a highlighter on my brow bone.

In the meantime Lauren had purchased the same set but didn't like the pearl or champagne shades as she found them dry and chalky. Admittedly they are more chalky than the nude formula but I find the champagne shade gives a lovely, subtle shimmer, which drys quickly and stays put all day so I'm really pleased with it.

I don't think you can buy the collection anymore but you can buy the different shades separately for £1.50 each.

Since buying these I have returned and purchased two eyeshadow trios, two nail polishes, two matte lip colours, a lip stain, a lip primer and plumper and an eyeliner... well, they did have a 40% off offer. I'm hugely impressed with everything, but I'll save that for another post.

*Collection 2000 Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Balm, Alberto VO5 Miracle Concentrate, Superdrug hot cloth cleanser.

Have you been tried any of the e.l.f range?
Love

November Scavenger Hunt

A great list this month! I'm rather pleased with the results after such a poor effort on my part last month!

a poppy

memorial

silhouette

something you have made

I have recently been busy making some Christmas tree decorations to sell at a charity bazaar in December...

something purple

... and some of them are purple!

but I think that's cheating a little so here is another purple

warmth

polka dots

never one to miss an opportunity to take pics of one or both of my cats. This is Tink.

a lucky charm

comfort food

roast beef, roast potatoes, roast parsnips and savoy cabbage - the ultimate Sunday roast!

a staircase

something that lights up

a self portrait

extreme close-up!!

See the other pics at Postcards from the P.P.

A quick word to all you other scavengers - I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas! Enjoy the alphabet challenge and I'll see you in the New Year!

Love