Welcome, 2014!

So Christmas and New Year didn't go off quite as I'd hoped! I had an excellent time, and I'm the biggest believer that Christmas should be a time for family and that presents should come secondary, so seeing my family and James's family together for the day was wonderful. But Christmas Day Eve I met with some form of nasty virus that I haven't been able to shake off since. New Year's Eve saw me in bed by 11pm and fast asleep when the ball dropped. New Year's Day? Spent on the sofa with my laptop (revived after six months of it in its grave) and Lord of the Rings on TV.

I have two resolutions for 2014. I rarely make them because I know I'm the worst person at sticking to them, but these two should be pretty simple:

1. Give up coffee. (Exceptions may apply.) I drink far too much, and it's bad for me. Every time I want a cuppa, I'm going to replace it with tea or chai tea and try to detox. Wish me luck!
2. Start a YouTube channel. I spent most of 2013 meaning to do this and recording a few demo videos, so 2014 is the time to suck it up and post them.

I did get some really lovely gifts and treats over Christmas, including lots of gorgeous candles, a ton of chocolate, and lots of beauty products to use in our newly-redone bathroom. Here are a few of my favourites:

The main theme in my living room is country chic, and I have plenty of hearts and candles littered around. This silver vase and candle holder are sitting in pride of place on the windowsill keeping the room warm on a night!

I LOVE these geek shoes from Topshop. Silver, shiny, comfy, cute... they tick every box.

Skull money box and My Little Pony from Urban Outfitters! Both in our office where the overwhelming colour is white. 

Happy New Year, everyone. I hope 2014 is safe, fun, prosperous and happy for each and every one of you! <3 <3

Stroke of Midnight Part II

This product is a gift for someone for Christmas, but I couldn't resist a sneaky peek!

This is the Stroke of Midnight Face Palette in Cool. It's for someone who has very recently started wearing make-up, and the cool tones suit her colouring perfectly. The shadows and pressed powder can be built up to give darker tones or used sparingly for a hint of colour. 

I hope she likes it!

Beat Those Blues!

The nights are long, dark and cold and most of us are feeling deflated after the rush and the flurry and the excitement of Christmas.

So I threw together a little list of ways that you can beat those winter blues, and inject some warmth back into your days!

1. Soak up the sun. Tough to do when it's cloudy and grey outside, right? True, and unless you can jet off to a Caribbean beach to soak up the vitamin D you'll have to be a bit creative. Leave the house as much as you can, go for walks or a jog, sit near the windows in a cafe or restaurant, and just avoid keeping yourself closeted in dim rooms for hours at a time. Fresh air and sunlight can work wonders!

2. Keep cosy! That sounds like I'm stating the obvious, but there are things you can do apart from muffling up in layers of scarves and hats all day. Wearing a base layer (I learned this from my arborist boyfriend) is the key to keeping your body warm especially if you're outside for long periods of time. Hot drinks can bring an instant flash of warmth to your hands and stomach - I'm a coffee girl myself, but will never say no to a hot chocolate.

3. Relive your childhood. Disney films aren't just for kids! If you have any tots in your family, round them up for a DVD day - and give them a selection of your favourites to choose from, so you know you'll enjoy!

4. Make a list, and stick to it! I'm talking about New Year's Resolutions. We all make them, don't we? Wild, life-changing lists and then when next December creeps around and you realise you've crossed off, well, none of them it can be a bit disheartening. You don't feel like you've progressed. So start small, and set targets. 'By January, I will have done A and B. By June, I will have done C and D, and stopped doing E.' Nobody expects you to change the world. But small changes often lead to bigger ones than you expected.

5. Eat well. I don't mean feating like there's no end (which is what most of us do on Christmas), but keeping it balanced. If you must eat everything you see (like me), try and mix it up with your main food categories, and go easy on the chocolate and caffeine in the AM.

6. Work hard, play hard. Christmas is for family time, but family time can get pretty taxing. Make sure you set aside some 'you' time, to catch up on your thank-you notes, that film you wanted to see, that half hour at the gym or just to snooze on the sofa with the dog. Nobody will think worse of you, and you'll be more revitalised for your next engagement.

Now to settle down in front of The Lion King in my slippers...

Nordic Touch

It's that time of year! Winter has set in, it's freezing outside, and all you want to do is snuggle up on the sofa with a cuppa and a good film. This is also the time of year where I spring clean and change up the style of my house. I've been keen on rustic decor for a long time, and this table by Barker and Stonehouse is just lush for a bedroom. Ideal for storing all your nightly things and also displaying books, ornaments, or anything else you like to have to hand.

The print is one of my favourite quotes, and I have a card of it taped to my fridge. I think it's completely and utterly true.

The reindeer and the throw, well what better way to inject a bit of wintry chic into a bedroom? A bit of dazzle and a bit of comfort.