discovering ingrid

i was completing my usual daily blog catch up and came across an adorable video on as she thinketh.

not only do the two of them look like they're having the most wonderful time in their helmets, on their sledge, but she accompanied the video with the most beautiful song -" you and i" by ingrid michaelson.



how have i never heard this fantastic lady before????

booking honeymoon - tick.

last night, m.r. and i booked our honeymoon flights!

we're so ridiculously excited.

we fly into los angeles and plan on spending 3 weeks road-tripping around california (with a little detour into vegas and grand canyon!)

we haven't started planning details yet, but the flights are booked! aaaarrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!

that means we're actually doing this......we're actually going to be doing something we both wanted to do before we even met each other.

and now, not only do we get to experience california the way we dreamed we would, but we get to do it together. which will make it a million times better than i could have ever hoped it would be.

p.s. in a few months, i will definitely be looking for some tips and advice so get your planning heads on people!

p.s.

i have been away for far too long from the blogging world and for that, i apologise.

i have an awful lot of catch-up reading to do......

the key to a girls success

confidence.

confidence is the key to a girl's success.

and a girl can only ever be confident when she's in beautiful clothes and pretty shoes.

a while back, i wrote a post about needing a new work wardrobe for my new job (i started said new job 2 days ago).
well, i threw caution (and budget) to the wind and began to compile that wardrobe.
plus, m.r. and family were wonderful enough to contribute with fabulous xmas and birthday pressies!

so i thought i'd share this newly found confidence with you guys as you have all been the initial impetus for this 'redesign'. because of you and all your gorgeous pictures, i remembered that looking good is easy, if you just wear what you love - forget others' opinions and the fear of looking slightly different.

embrace the kookiness and confidence soon follows.....

exhibit a presented as evidence - day 1 at work in my new coat! something i would never have worn in my previous job!

so thank you all for reminding me to just be me!

emerging from xmas madness

well christmas has certainly been a hectic one this year for m.r. and i but most definitely a wonderful one - full on family, food, fun (and then some more food)!

the only downside was that every member of the family fell ill at some point during the holiday. my mum tells me thats what happens when you switch off and your body starts to wind down for the break.

everyone battled through it though and we still managed to enjoy all the festivities - i find champagne often helps the immune system ;0)

we spent most of our time playing games with the babies, watching movies and eating the most delicious christmas dinner made by my mum. the perfect holiday. oh, and my nephew got his first tooth!

in addition to all of this, father christmas was ridiculously kind to me this year so i had every reason in the world to be smiling....

m.r. treated me to a fantastic sewing machine and his family bought a whole bunch of beautiful accessories to get me started.

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i have already ordered two dress patterns (mainly inspired by the 50s-esq dresses worn in 'pushing daisies') and i cannot wait to get going with them....... if only the postal system in london was a little more efficient!

my parents, unbelievably, bought me a pair of christian louboutin shoes. thats right. i can hardly believe it myself but i appreciate how lucky i am to have received such a wonderful present - my parents most definitely rock!

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exact picture to follow as mum and i are off to harrods on the weekend to choose the style we think i'd wear the most - with shoes such as these, i think this decision should be taken very seriously!

all the family, including m.r., swear that all my presents were bought before my 'if father christmas' post below. it would appear that they all know me far too well!

well, i'm just about to start catching up on everyones elses christmas stories. i'm so looking forward to hearing about how you all spent your holidays and what made your christmas wonderful this year.....

see you on the other side....

before i disappear for a couple of days into the world of family, seasonal get-togethers, i wanted to wish you all a very

merry christmas.

i hope you all have a truly wonderful holiday and i look forward to reading all your festive stories on my return!

if father christmas......

was a millionaire or a miracle worker, i would ask him for these christmas presents:

1. every pair of shoes that christian louboutin has ever designed
2. a brand new laptop that doesn't take a lifetime to connect to the internet and can cope with photoshop, so i don't have to keep 'borrowing' m.r.'s
3. a sewing machine and every sewing accessory i can think of to make pretty, pretty things
4. a blackberry. i am not interested in the iphone. i need functionality, not apps.
5. a winning lottery ticket
6. my grandad back - if only for my wedding day

not that i'm asking for much....

in reality, christmas this year will be all about family for me and m.r. - his and mine, that is "ours". (i still love saying that!)
it will be a first christmas for my new nephew and niece and my eldest nephew actually understands whats going on for the first time.
i'm so ridiculously excited.
even if the babies enjoy the wrapping paper more than the things inside it, i can't think of a better christmas present than watching them smile all day.
their laughs are contagious.
no other present will beat it.