Spring Updates

Spring has finally arrived - and with it showery weather, gggggrrrrr...

Although my home is for sale, it is still my home and like many I like to update and change my home around with the changing of the seasons.

New bedding and towels in lighter materials, candles with lighter fragrances, updates to rooms happen quickly with a lick of paint :-)

With lighter mornings I hang darker curtains. 

These are from Next, lovely velvet material, lined and the drape is lovely.

The bedding chest below I bought to store all our ski equipment, rather than having it in different places all over the house.

A new small painting, which I love - more on this later, but there is nothing like artwork to add a breath of fresh air! :-)

Move things around, give things new homes, shake things up a bit!

The rug below, thrown over the pew is a Flokati Rug from John Lewis. Bought to keep our bottoms warm whilst we eat, but also for Sebastian to play on. 

These are gorgeous rugs, made from lambs wool - 

Flokati rugs are handmade of shag wool rug, traditionally made by the Vlachs peoples of the Pindus mountains. The natural colour of a flokati rug is off-white and entire rug is wool, including the backing from which the tapered shag emerges. After the rug is woven, it is placed in the cold water of a river to fluff the shag.

& of course there is nothing like flowers to make you smile on a spring day!!

How do you welcome Spring into your home?
Happy Spring!
XX

Towels from The White Company and bedding & candle from TKMaxx

Reclaiming The Garden

Well, it's a mahoosive welcome to Spring from  moi!!

Had a very productive weekend continuing to reclaim the garden - started in September last year 

(you can see the grass is greener :-)! Olly was outside with us all day - and is now snoozing at my feet having doggy dreams!! :-)

Of all the things I wish I were it is a gardener. Sadly I am not. I am just hopeless. 

However, I love a good fire! 

There is so much to do. We need to take down chicken world as we no longer have our lovely chucks :-( Clear paths, discover steps that haven't seen the light of day for years.......

We ended the day drinking cider (Mr.L) & prosecco (me) eating sweet potatoe baked on the fire!

& here a small collage of our hard work.....

So, tell me - do you like gardening?
Any tips to make it easier???
XX

Destinations For March #TheYearInBooks

So, I have eventually finished my first choice for the year in books! Joining in with Circle Of Pine Trees The Year In Books - getting my reading on!

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey........I didn't read as much as I usually do on holiday.
 I enjoyed this book, it didn't grip me completely initially, this changed as I got about halfway through. Beautifully written with a  depth of emotion around the loss of a child emanating from the pages.  I felt sad for the characters, that their lives were affected so deeply by the loss of their child, but how do you recover from something so sad, could you?

As the book went on it was interspersed with happier, tender, beautifully captured moments. I could also picture the scenery, the atmosphere, I was holding my breath at times as I read, a talent for a writer to deliver. About halfway through I started to worry that the ending was going to be sad, I'm not in a place to cope with sad endings at the moment!! However, I would describe the end as thought provoking, as is much of the book.

So, my book for March (a little late) is Destinations by Sheila O'Flanagan.

A women on the tube travelling to work and her daily observations of the other regular passengers.......and the conversations she overhears. A nosey book!!

Hoping to catch up with some of my favourite blogs this weekend after nearly two weeks with no tablet, ggggrrrr.

Happy Weekend!
XX

Cool Running Gear

So, I returned from my ski trip full of vigour and energy. 

Within a few days back I had booked myself places in 4 10k races. 

Really! I can't quite believe it myself. 

But this last year has seen me make so many changes, to my diet and lifestyle, for the benefit of my health and whilst skiing - 6 days, 6 hours a day, I really felt the benefits of my hard work.

I see the races as a way of keeping me motivated, to stay fit and continue to eat healthily. A goal to work towards and hopefully a celebration afterwards! ;-)

I also ordered some new running and chillout gear. I really believe wearing great gear helps you to feel good about yourself and motivate you to push yourself that little bit further.

I adore Sweat Betty but tend to wait for the sales as it is on the pricey side. A good alternative is GapFit. Great quality and fit and their  run pants are so funky - everyone comments on mine.
So here is my latest haul!

Love these - so comfy and excellent quality! :-)

These purple marble pants look more expensive than they were.... 

Thumbholes - what can I say?! Sold!

So tell me, do you feel more motivated when wearing cool workout gear?

XX

Finding My Flare

I'm sure everyone has noticed flares have made a comeback.
I love a good flare. I'm a seventies girl. & they look great with wedges, my shoe of choice for easy walking, height and no pinched toes :-)

I spoke about my word for this year, how I was going to sort out every drawer, cupboard and room in my house. In doing my bedroom I found not one but two pairs of flares. 
Bonus - they fit me too after losing weight last year!! 

Here is how I've been wearing mine - Fur jacket, Boden silk shirt & Lola Cruz 
wedges for a meal to celebrate my 24th Wedding Anniversary!

Girly night (Said I love flares!)
Leopard print jacket, t-shirt & patent heels all Next.

Adding in my Oasis navy leather jacket & blanket scarf.....sooooo cold!

 & in the day - call this my Aunty uniform! :-)
Hush jumper, Ash Buckle Pumps,



Ready to go - in my cosy Belstaff Parka

& a gorgeous smiley boy!!


Jeans throughout are very old 7 for all mankind.
Of course I did send some things to the charity shop and will be putting a few things on good old Ebay.

So how about you? Will you be embracing flares this year?
XX

Back From The Mountains

I've been away from this space! But I'm here, with lots to post about!

I returned from a fabulous ski trip in Morzine, straight back to work, was reminded by my Sister that I was looking after my Nephew for the weekend....He is four....Massive Aunty fail as I had forgotten!

 Then this weekend has been all about parties, decluttering my home, decorating the en-suite whilst nursing a hangover from hell (I'll spare the details, but two words - never again!)

So here, a few pics of my recent ski trip, which was full of laughs, friendship, 

vin chau and challenges in the form of black runs - I like me some adrenaline!

Bye for now and thanks for popping by this space!
Have a great week, XX