New Year Resolutions

2011 was an amazing year I got married, got a promotion at work and met some amazing people.  But it has also been very stressful, and I know that a number of people in my life have, and are currently dealing with some of life's big issues.

So as I look to 2012 I wanted to make changes that were sustainable, positive and enjoyable, not the usual 'lose weight', 'drink less', 'quit smoking' etc.  I aim to live in the moment more, not to always be looking to the next thing and appreciate what I have.

So firstly, draw, draw, draw everything and anything.

Don't take work home with me, I really need to learn how to switch off my work brain!

Keep making, crafting, and baking.  This is a blanket I'm currently working on for my mum:

Wear more colour!  This year I have been wearing a lot of grey and black, I have absolutely no idea why I used to wear a lot of colour, so to get myself back on track £12 got me these fab pair of yellow shoes I've damaged them in the rain already but I think they look better for it.

So I hope you all have a fantastic New Year *raises glass of champagne in your direction*

Birthday prizes!

We have been celebrating mum's birthday this week, a little early as her actual birthday is the first week of January but as my brother goes home today it was the last opportunity we had to celebrate together.  So after the rich fruit cakes, mince pies, and cream I thought I would make Nigella Lawson's Lemon Syrup Cake as it's really zesty and fresh.

Birthday cards were made using the stamps MozzyMr gave me for Christmas, and presents were wrapped using the fab tape measure sticky tape I found in Totnes on our jaunt there late night shopping.  Brown and turquoise was the card/gift wrap theme. 

Following a meal out we relocated back to Plymouth where we sat around drinking port, did a crossword and watched films, nice and chilled, the perfect way to celebrate. 

Tidy, tidy, tidy!

Back in April whilst stressing about the wedding one night I had a crazy tidy spree and colour co-ordinated the books on my bookcases (last photo of this post).

Well I finally got around to doing the books in our living room:

It's a bit obsessive, and to be honest if you can't remember the spine colour of the book you're looking for it makes things tricky.  But it looks tidier and that's just fine with me. 

All important day away from the sofa and chocolate

I don't know about you but this bit between Christmas and New Year drives me crazy, I get cabin fever really badly but have to fight my own lazy impulses and peel myself off the sofa and leave the house and chocolate behind me.  So today we went to the newly re-opened Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter.  Here is a little of what we saw:

The museum was really, really busy so I think I would like to go back later in the year when things have calmed down a little.  The building is lovely and I love the display of taxidermy, they have an amazing collection of birds and butterflies but on this visit sadly we didn't find the butterflies.

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Thank you Santa

Following Christmas Eve at my folks place, we came home for Christmas Day, just the two of us.  MozzyMr did sterling work on the Christmas dinner in a rather fetching apron.

I got to do the fun bit and dressed the table using Plan B placemats:

my new (but already a firm Christmas favourite) robin cruet set was used:

and then there were the Christmas prizes, some crafted (by very talented sister-in-law Colette Moscrop):

some purdy Cath Kidston treats, a flask for hot soup on the allotment (bliss!):

and some kitsch:

Thank you Santa's you have all put a beaming smile on my face.

Alternative Advent Calendar #24

So here we are, Christmas Eve and the last post of my alternative advent calendar.  I hope you've enjoyed the journey.

The final Christmas touches have been made to the house, the candles are lit,

and the cat is eyeing up the presents under the Christmas tree.  So there really isn't anything more to say than...

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a fantastically Happy New Year!

Love from MozzyMrs xxx

Alternative Advent Calendar #23

Placemat plan B finished, the pale green works really well with our soft yellow formica table and I got to raid my button jar, very happy with the result even if they are a bit wonky. 

So today I'm going to take things easy, I've managed to do my back in.  Stupid thing is I did it jumping around in excitement having just opened an envelope with a tax rebate in it, seemingly now that I am OLD I must complete a thorough warm up before showing displays of enthusiasm or excitement (cue leg stretches).